iˈdentiˌfier
C1Formal / Technical
Definition
Meaning
A person or thing that establishes or indicates the identity of someone or something.
1. A sequence of characters used to name or label a variable, function, or other entity in programming and data systems. 2. Any unique code, mark, or label used to distinguish one item from others in a system.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word strongly implies a function of distinction and labeling. In computing, it is a technical term with precise syntactic rules.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant meaning differences. Spelling remains consistent. British usage may be slightly more common in 'person identifier' contexts (e.g., official documents), while American usage dominates in computing discourse.
Connotations
Neutral and functional in both varieties.
Frequency
Higher frequency in American English due to the prominence of the tech industry.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
identifier of + [entity]identifier for + [entity/purpose][type] + identifier (e.g., user identifier)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(No common idioms for this technical noun)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to customer IDs, account numbers, or product codes used in databases and logistics.
Academic
Used in research for participant codes, variable names in statistics, and bibliographic reference codes (e.g., DOI).
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. Might be used for official documents like passport numbers or usernames.
Technical
Crucial term in computer science for naming program elements. Has strict rules regarding characters and uniqueness.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The system failed to identify the user.
- Can you identify the main cause?
American English
- The software will identify the device.
- We need to identify the key variables.
adverb
British English
- The parcel was identifiably marked.
- He spoke identifiably as a local.
American English
- The files are identifiably different.
- Her style is identifiably unique.
adjective
British English
- She carried identifiable markers.
- The bag was easily identifiable.
American English
- He wore an identifiable uniform.
- The car had identifiable damage.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Your username is your identifier on the website.
- Show your student identifier card.
- Every product in the warehouse has a unique identifier.
- The police asked for a personal identifier like a driving licence.
- The database uses a serial number as the primary key identifier for each record.
- A strong password should not be the same as your user identifier.
- In Python, a valid identifier cannot begin with a numerical digit.
- The study anonymised the data by replacing names with randomly generated identifiers.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of an IDentifier as something that gives something an 'ID' - an Identity Document.
Conceptual Metaphor
A NAMETAG for data. A KEY that unlocks a specific record.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating directly as 'идентификатор' in non-technical contexts where 'признак', 'метка', or 'показатель' might be more natural.
- Do not confuse with 'опознаватель' or 'указатель'.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'identifior' or 'indentifier'.
- Using in plural when referring to a single composite code (e.g., 'My identifiers are...' for one username).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the BEST example of an 'identifier' in a technical sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In many contexts, yes. 'ID' is the abbreviated, more casual form. 'Identifier' is the full, formal term, especially common in technical documentation.
Yes, but it's less common. It typically means a person who identifies something (e.g., a witness). More often, it refers to the thing (code, tag) used to identify a person.
It should be unique within its scope, descriptive of its purpose (e.g., 'user_age'), and follow the language's syntactic rules (often starting with a letter, using alphanumeric characters).
An identifier (like a username or email) is public and tells the system *who* you are. A password is secret and proves you *are* that person. They work together for authentication.