self-identify

[ self-ahy-den-ti-fahy, ‐i-den-ti-fahy ]

verb (used without object)

1. identify ( defs 7, 8 ):

   to self-identify as gay; to self-identify with others in the same situation.

verb (used with object)

1. identify ( defs 4, 6 ):

   I've never self-identified myself with that radical mentality. She sometimes self-identifies herself with her patients.

Other Words From

• self-i·den·ti·fi·ca·tion noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of self-identify¹

First recorded in 1960–65; self ( def ) + identify ( def )

Example Sentences

It is literally illegal to be gay, and so to self-identify is to risk imprisonment.

From The Daily Beast

McCarthy, who used to self-identify as a Democrat, now calls herself an Independent.

From The Daily Beast

More than 50 percent of millennials self-identify as independents.

From The Daily Beast

In January, Gallup found a historically high number of Americans – 42 percent – self-identify as politically independent.

From The Daily Beast

Upon the adoption of the new system, all soldiers would be required to self-identify tattoos to their unit leaders.

From The Daily Beast