verb · 13 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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UK:/aɪˈdɛn.tɪ.faɪ/
US:/aɪˈdɛn.(t)ə.faɪ/
US:/aɪˈdɛn.(t)ɪ.faɪ/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:AY0 D EH1 N T AH0 F AY2
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
verb
Meaning 1
To establish the identity of someone or something.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
It was hard to identify the shoplifter because the CCTV records didn't have a clear image.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To disclose the identity of someone.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
The Associated Press will not identify the suspect of the crime because he is a juvenile.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To establish the taxonomic classification of an organism.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Topics: biology, natural-sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
To equate or make the same; to unite or combine into one.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
18 February, 1780, Edmund Burke, Speech on Economical Reform Let us identify, let us incorporate ourselves with the people.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
verb
Meaning 5
To have a strong affinity with; to feel oneself to be modelled on or connected to.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: reflexive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
verb
Meaning 6
To associate oneself with some group; to feel, or believe one feels, the same way.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
verb
Meaning 7
To claim an identity; to describe oneself as a member of a group; to assert the use of a particular term to describe oneself.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: reflexive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
From French identifier, from Medieval Latin identicus + Latin faciō.
Across languages
Translations
101 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Afrikaans:
identifiseer
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Armenian:
նույնականացնել
(nuynakanacʻnel)
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Belarusian:
апазнава́ць
(apaznavácʹ)
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Belarusian:
апазна́ць
(apaznácʹ)
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Belarusian:
ідэнтыфікава́ць
(identyfikavácʹ)
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Bulgarian:
идентифици́рам
(identificíram)
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Catalan:
identificar
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Chinese Mandarin:
辨認 /辨认
(biànrèn)
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Chinese Mandarin:
識別 /识别
(shíbié)
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Czech:
identifikovat
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Dutch:
identificeren
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Esperanto:
identigi
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Finnish:
tunnistaa
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Finnish:
identifioida
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Finnish:
tunnistautua
— to establish the identity of someone or something
French:
identifier
— to establish the identity of someone or something
German:
identifizieren
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Haitian Creole:
idantifye
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Hungarian:
azonosít
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Hungarian:
felismer
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Hungarian:
ráismer
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Hungarian:
beazonosít
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Indonesian:
mengidentifikasi
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Italian:
identificare
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Italian:
individuare
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Japanese:
識別する
(shikibetsu suru)
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Korean:
분별하다
(bunbyeolhada)
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Korean:
식별하다
(sikbyeolhada)
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Latin:
identificō
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Macedonian:
препознава
(prepoznava)
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Macedonian:
идентификува
(identifikuva)
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Malay:
mengenalpasti
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Malay:
mengenali
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Māori:
tautuhi
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Māori:
tāutu
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Māori:
tautohu
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Norwegian Bokmål:
identifisere
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Norwegian Nynorsk:
identifisere
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Occitan:
identificar
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Piedmontese:
identifiché
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Polish:
identyfikować
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Portuguese:
identificar
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Russian:
идентифици́ровать
(idɛntificírovatʹ)
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Russian:
отождествля́ть
(otoždestvljátʹ)
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Russian:
отождестви́ть
(otoždestvítʹ)
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Russian:
опознава́ть
(opoznavátʹ)
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Russian:
опозна́ть
(opoznátʹ)
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Scottish Gaelic:
comharraich
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Serbo-Croatian:
поистоветити
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Serbo-Croatian:
poistovetiti
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Spanish:
identificar
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Spanish:
funar
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Swedish:
identifiera
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Tagalog:
kilalanin
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Tagalog:
identipikahin
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Ottoman Turkish:
طانیمق
(tanımak)
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Ukrainian:
ідентифікувати
(identyfikuvaty)
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Ukrainian:
ототожнювати
(ototožnjuvaty)
— to establish the identity of someone or something
Afrikaans:
identifiseer
— to disclose the identity of someone
Hungarian:
felfed
— to disclose the identity of someone
Hungarian:
megnevez
— to disclose the identity of someone
Afrikaans:
identifiseer
— biology: to establish the taxonomic classification of an organism
Bulgarian:
идентифицирам
(identificiram)
— biology: to establish the taxonomic classification of an organism
Catalan:
identificar
— biology: to establish the taxonomic classification of an organism
Dutch:
determineren
— biology: to establish the taxonomic classification of an organism
Dutch:
identificeren
— biology: to establish the taxonomic classification of an organism
Finnish:
tunnistaa
— biology: to establish the taxonomic classification of an organism
Finnish:
identifioida
— biology: to establish the taxonomic classification of an organism
Hungarian:
meghatároz
— biology: to establish the taxonomic classification of an organism
Hungarian:
azonosít
— biology: to establish the taxonomic classification of an organism
Korean:
동정(同定)하다
(dongjeonghada)
— biology: to establish the taxonomic classification of an organism
Māori:
tautohu
— biology: to establish the taxonomic classification of an organism
Catalan:
identificar
— to equate or make the same; to unite or combine into one
Finnish:
samastaa
— to equate or make the same; to unite or combine into one
Finnish:
samaistaa
— to equate or make the same; to unite or combine into one
German:
gleichsetzen
— to equate or make the same; to unite or combine into one
Hungarian:
azonosnak/egynek tekint
— to equate or make the same; to unite or combine into one
Macedonian:
поистоветува
(poistovetuva)
— to equate or make the same; to unite or combine into one
Macedonian:
изедначува
(izednačuva)
— to equate or make the same; to unite or combine into one
Spanish:
identificar
— to equate or make the same; to unite or combine into one
Afrikaans:
identifiseer met
— to associate oneself with some group
Bulgarian:
отъждествявам се
(otǎždestvjavam se)
— to associate oneself with some group
Catalan:
identificar-se
— to associate oneself with some group
Finnish:
samastua
— to associate oneself with some group
Finnish:
samaistua
— to associate oneself with some group
French:
s'identifier à
— to associate oneself with some group
Hungarian:
azonosul
— to associate oneself with some group
Macedonian:
поистоветува се
(poistovetuva se)
— to associate oneself with some group
Macedonian:
идентификува се
(identifikuva se)
— to associate oneself with some group
Norwegian Bokmål:
identifisere seg
— to associate oneself with some group
Norwegian Nynorsk:
identifisere seg
— to associate oneself with some group
Polish:
utożsamiać się
— to associate oneself with some group
Portuguese:
identificar-se
— to associate oneself with some group
Russian:
отождествля́ться
(otoždestvljátʹsja)
— to associate oneself with some group
Russian:
отождестви́ться
(otoždestvítʹsja)
— to associate oneself with some group
Russian:
идентифици́роваться
(idɛntificírovatʹsja)
— to associate oneself with some group
Russian:
pf
— to associate oneself with some group
Russian:
солидаризи́роваться
(solidarizírovatʹsja)
— to associate oneself with some group
Spanish:
identificarse
— to associate oneself with some group
Swedish:
identifiera sig
— to associate oneself with some group
Hungarian:
vallja magát
— (with as) to claim an identity; to describe oneself as a member of a group; to assert the use of a particular term to describe oneself
