What does identifying mean?
Identifying means serving to distinguish or recognize a particular person, thing, or feature. It is commonly used in phrases such as identifying feature, identifying mark, and identifying characteristic, especially when one detail is especially useful for recognizing something among similar objects or people. The word can also function as the present participle of identify, as in a sentence describing someone determining the identity of a person or object. In these constructions, identifying has a more formal or technical tone than a simple form such as naming or recognizing. The adjective is especially common in identification, forensic, taxonomic, and descriptive contexts, but it is not restricted to specialist writing. Its connection with identity is etymological as well as semantic: identify ultimately comes from Latin words meaning “the same” and “to make,” while identifying developed as a participial form that came to describe something capable of establishing identity.
Serving to identify or distinguish a person, thing, or feature.
"The researchers recorded several identifying features of the newly discovered species."
Frequently used to describe a feature, mark, or characteristic whose purpose is recognition.
The present participle of identify, describing the act of determining or establishing the identity of someone or something.
"Witnesses were identifying the driver from photographs."
This is a verb form rather than an independently conjugated verb.
Identifying shares its roots with identity: both trace to Latin idem, meaning “the same.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does identifying come from?
Identifying is the present participle of identify and also functions independently as an adjective. Identify entered English in the late 17th century from Latin identificare, formed from idem, meaning “the same,” and facere, meaning “to make.” Its development included the sense of making something known as a particular person or thing, and from this arose the adjectival use of identifying for a distinguishing feature.
Related word forms
How identifying is actually used
As an adjective, identifying usually describes a feature, mark, characteristic, or other detail that enables recognition. Its use as a standalone present participle is grammatically correct but less common than the corresponding forms of identify.