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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

identity crisis

Trendy direct-to-consumer caviar brands are offering cutely branded tins at such low prices that the industry is facing an identity crisis, the Journal’s Jamie Waters reports.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026

A body of water that had managed for centuries without an identity crisis had become an A/B test: which lake you saw depended on where you stood and which corporation’s map you opened.

From Salon ● Sep. 2, 2026

The challenges reflect the culmination of a long-standing identity crisis inside Google: whether to prioritize mass-market commercial products, or build tools for scientific research.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 15, 2026

According to Rebecca Nagle, a citizen of Cherokee Nation, a writer and journalist, and the host of the new podcast First America, the Founding Fathers initially faced an identity crisis.

From Slate ● Jul. 3, 2026

“You know me better than anyone. And if I am having an identity crisis, at least you can help me get a good song out of it.”

From "Amina's Song" by Hena Khan

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