iden·ti·ty 
/aɪˈdɛntəti/ noun
plural iden·ti·ties /aɪˈdɛntəti/ noun 1 : who someone is : the name of a person [count] ▪ The identity of the criminal/victim is not known. ▪ The face of the witness was hidden in order to protect her identity. [=to keep her name from being known] ▪ The documents proved/established his identity. [=proved/established who he was] ▪ They produced their passports as proof of their identities. [noncount] ▪ You will need to show proof of identity. [=something that shows that you are who you say you are] ▪ They arrested the wrong man. It was a case of mistaken identity. 2 : the qualities, beliefs, etc., that make a particular person or group different from others [count] ▪ As children grow, they establish their own identities. ▪ She did not want to be known only as the wife of her husband. She insisted on having her own identity. [=on being known for her own qualities, achievements, etc.] [noncount] ▪ people who seem to lack individual identity ▪ He has a strong sense of personal identity. [=a strong feeling about exactly the kind of person he is] ▪ His art reflects his cultural/racial identity.
