identity crisis

American  

noun

1. a period or episode of psychological distress, often occurring in adolescence but sometimes in adulthood, when a person seeks a clearer sense of self and an acceptable role in society.

2. confusion as to goals and priorities.

   The company is undergoing an identity crisis.

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Etymology

Origin of identity crisis

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

All of this feeds into a broader identity crisis, with supporters yearning for a return to the early Abramovich era, but experiencing similar managerial turnover under the American ownership - without the same consistent success.

From BBC • May 16, 2026

Nike stock has hit a 12-year low, in part because of an identity crisis: Some investors say it has strayed too far from performance sneakers into fashion.

From Barron's • Apr. 16, 2026

He now finds himself facing a daunting new challenge: Helming one of the country’s top law firms in its throes of an identity crisis.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

An Israeli in Paris undergoes a strange, thrillingly unpredictable identity crisis in Nadav Lapid’s prize-winning third feature.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

My grandmother's identity crisis is fascinating and frightening at the same time, like a slasher movie you can't stop watching.

From "You Bring the Distant Near" by Mitali Perkins