noun
identification
eye-den-tih-fih-KAY-shun/aɪˌdentɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/
The establishing of who a person is or what a thing is.
The clerk compares the card's portrait with the man for identification.
Etymology
Identification originally meant treating or proving something to be the same as another. That emphasis shifted toward establishing identity: recognizing or proving who someone is or what something is.
In context
there was a field with over 130 dead bodies needing identification. And this would prove to be difficult as well, let's just say many were beyond recognition.
More examples
- Fingerprints help police with the identification of suspects.
- Accurate plant identification helps prevent accidental poisoning.
- You need to show identification when you pick up your tickets.
Forms
identification · identifications
identify verb — To establish who or what something is.
Similar words
- recognition
- Recognition often involves knowing someone or something from previous experience.
- verification
- Verification confirms a claimed identity rather than establishing an unknown one.