identification

American  

[ahy-den-tuh-fi-key-shuhn, ih-den-] / aɪˌdɛn tə fɪˈkeɪ ʃən, ɪˌdɛn- /

noun

1. an act or instance of identifying; the state of being identified.

   Synonyms:

   affiliation, connection, association

2. something that identifies a person, animal, or thing.

   He carries identification with him at all times.

3. Sociology. acceptance as one's own of the values and interests of a social group.

4. Psychology.

   1. a process by which one ascribes to oneself the qualities or characteristics of another person.

   2. (in psychoanalytic theory) the transference or reaction to one person with the feelings or responses relevant to another, as the identification of a teacher with a parent.

   3. perception of another as an extension of oneself.

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identification British  

/ aɪˌdɛntɪfɪˈkeɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of identifying or the state of being identified

2. 1. something that identifies a person or thing

   2. ( as modifier )

      an identification card

3. psychol

   1. the process of recognizing specific objects as the result of remembering

   2. the process by which one incorporates aspects of another person's personality See also empathy

   3. the transferring of a response from one situation to another because the two bear similar features See also generalization

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Other Word Forms

• nonidentification noun
• overidentification noun
• preidentification noun
• reidentification noun

Etymology

Origin of identification

First recorded in 1635–45; identi(fy) + -fication

Example Sentences

A spokesperson said "information came to light" on Sunday which prompted "further formal identification processes, including forensics, to be undertaken" and resulted in the mistake being identified.

From BBC

"We had victims, injured people, who were in such a serious condition that identification has been very difficult so far," Mathias Reynard, president of the Wallis cantonal government, told France Info radio on Monday.

From Barron's

To test this idea, the team used mass spectrometry, a technique that converts molecules into charged particles for identification.

From Science Daily

"Extensive" work from officers and the Institute of Forensic Medicine made the identifications possible, Valais cantonal police said in a statement, and work to identify the remaining victims continues.

From BBC

“The priority today is clearly identification, so that families can begin their mourning,” said Beatrice Pilloud, attorney general for Valais, the Swiss canton where the fire occurred.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• description
• passport
• recognition
• testimony