identity crisis: Meaning and Definition of

iden'tity cri"sis

Pronunciation: [key]
  1. a period or episode of psychological distress, often occurring in adolescence but sometimes in adulthood, when a person seeks a clearer sense of self and an acceptable role in society.
  2. confusion as to goals and priorities: The company is undergoing an identity crisis.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.