identity

/aɪˈdentəti/ (bre, ipa) · /aɪˈdentəti/ (ame, ipa) · /ī-ˈden-tə-tē ə-, -ˈde-nə-/ (ame, mw) · /aɪˈden.tə.ti/ (bre, ipa) · /aɪˈden.t̬ə.t̬i/ (ame, ipa)

identity — noun

  • identitysingular
  • identitiesplural

1. the name and basic personal details — such as age, nationality, and address — th

1.名詞B1
釋義

the name and basic personal details — such as age, nationality, and address — that establish who a particular person is

例句

Police confirmed the victim's identity using dental records.

Lakshmi was asked to provide proof of identity before entering the building.

collocation: proof of identity

同義詞
  • identification

    refers more to the documents or process of proving who someone is, rather than the facts themselves

  • persona

    focuses on public-facing image or role, which may differ from real identity

  • particulars

    a formal term for basic personal details such as name and address

文法句型

someone's identity

identity of someone

用法筆記

Often appears in contexts of security, law enforcement, or official verification. The phrase 'proof of identity' refers to documents such as a passport or driver's license.

常見錯誤

❌I forgot my identity at home.
✅I forgot my identity card at home.
💡identity is the set of facts about who you are, not a physical object you can leave behind.
❌The police asked for his identity.
✅The police asked for his identification.
💡identification refers to the document; identity refers to the person's name and details.

2. the set of qualities, beliefs, and feelings that give a person, group, or place

2.名詞B1
釋義

the set of qualities, beliefs, and feelings that give a person, group, or place its distinct character

例句

The festival celebrates the cultural identity of the local Indigenous community.

collocation: cultural identity

As a teenager, Rin struggled to find her own identity apart from her family.

同義詞
  • individuality

    focuses on personal uniqueness rather than group belonging

  • character

    broader term covering personality and moral qualities of a person or group

  • distinctiveness

    emphasises what sets someone apart from others

反義詞
  • conformity

    the act of being and thinking the same as everyone else, the opposite of having a distinct identity

文法句型

someone's identity

identity of [group]

cultural/national/ethnic identity

用法筆記

Frequently modified by adjectives such as 'cultural', 'national', 'ethnic', 'religious', 'corporate', or 'gender'. This sense differs from 'WHO SOMEONE IS' in that it focuses on shared qualities and belonging rather than official identifying details.

常見錯誤

❌She has a strong identity cat.
✅She has a strong sense of identity.
💡identity is not an adjective that describes a category of person; use 'sense of identity' for the feeling of who you are.

3. the fact that two or more things are exactly the same as each other

3.名詞B2
釋義

the fact that two or more things are exactly the same as each other

例句

The identity of goals between the two departments led them to share resources.

grammar pattern: identity of [plural noun]

Feng noted the identity of the two signatures and suspected the document was forged.

同義詞
  • sameness

    a plainer, everyday alternative to the formal 'identity' in this sense

  • oneness

    emphasises unity and wholeness rather than exact match

  • uniformity

    implies that every part is the same across a set, often with a neutral or critical tone

反義詞
  • difference

    the state of being unlike or distinct

  • diversity

    the state of having variety, the opposite of sameness

文法句型

identity of [plural noun]

用法筆記

A formal, often academic sense. Common in philosophy, mathematics, law, and comparative analysis. Unlike 'GROUP CHARACTER', this sense does not involve personal or cultural distinctiveness.

常見錯誤

❌They share an identity of culture.
✅They share a cultural identity.
💡when referring to shared qualities of a group, use sense 2 (GROUP CHARACTER) rather than the formal SAMENESS sense.

identity — adjective