Dictionary

self-identify en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ˌsɛlfaɪˈdɛntɪfaɪ/

Etymology

From self- + identify.

Meanings

1. (in passive, reflexive, transitive) To identify (oneself) with a particular person or group, or as part of a particular group.
   • This is a new type of emperor; he is self-identified with the divinity, his celestial virtues legitimizing his power. 1981, Jiří Frel, Roman Portraits in the J. Paul Getty Museum, page 112:
   • Among those who self-identified themselves as Native American, 80 percent of them had white ancestors, along with 20 percent for blacks, Hispanics, and Asians. 2003, Hiroshi Fukurai, Richard Krooth, Race in the Jury Box, page 42:
2. (intransitive) To identify oneself as belonging to a particular group or category.
   • Whole communities laughingly self-identify as degenerate. 2026 July 9, Nitsuh Abebe, “Has There Ever Been a Better Time to Be a ‘Degenerate’?”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
   • So, why is self-identifying so important and how does it benefit the organization and the employee? 2019 February 14, Jennifer S Kiesewetter Esq, “Diversity and Inclusion: Getting Candidates to Self-Identify”, in ADP:
   • Online forums dedicated to incel culture are a reliable way to see how the term evolved and is used today. A subreddit, or forum on Reddit, called r/incels was one of the most visible meeting places for self-identified incels until it was banned by Reddit in 2017 for “violent content.” 2023 March 16, AJ Willingham, “What does the term ‘incel’ mean?”, in CNN:
   • In this instance, 70% of Jews self-identify as leaning to or members of the Democratic party. 2013 October 2, Harry Enten, The Guardian:
   • A Nebraska state lawmaker apologized on Monday after he publicly cited a persistent but debunked rumor alleging that schools are placing litter boxes in school bathrooms to accommodate children who self-identify as cats. 2022 March 29, “Republican retracts false claim schools placing litter boxes for ‘furry’ students”, in The Guardian, sourced from Associated Press, →ISSN:
   • When it comes to love, Beth self-identifies as “a person who is attracted to both sexes,” and is interested in upending conventional narratives. 2016 May 13, Chris Lee, The New York Times:

Forms

Relateds

self-identification · self-identifier