dissociative identity disorder

noun

: a personality disorder that is characterized by the presence of two or more distinct and complex identities or personality states each of which becomes dominant and controls behavior from time to time to the exclusion of the others and that results from disruption in the integrated functions of consciousness, memory, and identity : multiple personality disorder

Note: The term dissociative identity disorder is now preferred over multiple personality disorder especially in medical contexts.

Examples of dissociative identity disorder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Among their lofty goals was a Pi that had multiple personalities, like a cyborg Sybil with a dissociative identity disorder. IEEE Spectrum, 1 Apr. 2025 Niki also has dissociative identity disorder, and sometimes turns into her more violent alter ego, Jessica. Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 1 Feb. 2026 By the time Kaas is finally released from prison, Manfred — a former Viking obsessive — has been diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder. Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2025 Isaac plays Marc Spector, a man suffering from dissociative identity disorder and gifted with abilities by the Egyptian god Khonshu. Ross Rosenfeld, Newsweek, 26 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dissociative identity disorder

Word History

First Known Use

1993, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dissociative identity disorder was in 1993

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Cite this Entry

“Dissociative identity disorder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dissociative%20identity%20disorder. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Medical Definition

dissociative identity disorder

noun
: a personality disorder that is characterized by the presence of two or more distinct and complex identities or personality states each of which becomes dominant and controls behavior from time to time to the exclusion of the others and that results from disruption in the integrated functions of consciousness, memory, and identity : multiple personality disorder

Note: The term dissociative identity disorder is now preferred over multiple personality disorder especially in medical contexts.

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