identification
UK: aɪˌdentɪfɪˈkeɪʃn | US: aɪˌdentɪfɪˈkeɪʃn
n. the act of identifying someone or something
n. a document or proof that verifies identity
n. the process of associating oneself with a group or idea
The word "identification" traces back to Latin identificare, combining idem (same) and facere (to make). The morpheme ident- preserves the notion of sameness, while -ify (from Latin -ficare) means "to make." The suffix -cation (via French -cation) forms a noun indicating the action or result. The term evolved in English to describe both the act of recognizing sameness (e.g., identifying a person) and the documents or symbols (e.g., ID cards) that formalize this recognition.
The police asked for his identification before allowing him entry.
Birdwatchers use markings for the identification of species.
She felt a strong identification with the protagonist of the novel.
The passport serves as official identification when traveling abroad.
Early identification of symptoms can improve medical outcomes.