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.

---

Etymology

Origin of identity crisis

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

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

So we really deliberately and really defiantly tried to embrace the identity crisis of the character in how we told the story.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026

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

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

“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