self-identify

English

Etymology

From self- +‎ identify.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌsɛlfaɪˈdɛntɪfaɪ/

Verb

self-identify (third-person singular simple present self-identifies, present participle self-identifying, simple past and past participle self-identified)

1. (transitive, chiefly in passive, or reflexive) To identify (oneself) with a particular person or group, or as part of a particular group. [from 19th c.]
   • 1981, Jiří Frel, Roman Portraits in the J. Paul Getty Museum, page 112:

     This is a new type of emperor; he is self-identified with the divinity, his celestial virtues legitimizing his power.

   • 2003, Hiroshi Fukurai, Richard Krooth, Race in the Jury Box, page 42:

     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.

2. (intransitive) To identify oneself as belonging to a particular group or category. [from 20th c.]
   • 2013 October 2, Harry Enten, The Guardian:

     In this instance, 70% of Jews self-identify as leaning to or members of the Democratic party.

   • 2016 May 13, Chris Lee, The New York Times:

     When it comes to love, Beth self-identifies as “a person who is attracted to both sexes,” and is interested in upending conventional narratives.

   • 2022 March 29, “Republican retracts false claim schools placing litter boxes for ‘furry’ students”, in The Guardian‎^[1], sourced from Associated Press, →ISSN:

     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.

Related terms

• self-identification
• self-identifier