split personality: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumFormal in clinical contexts; informal in figurative use
Quick answer
What does “split personality” mean?
A psychological condition where a person's identity is fragmented into two or more distinct personality states.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A psychological condition where a person's identity is fragmented into two or more distinct personality states.
Informally used to describe someone who displays contradictory behaviors or attitudes, as if they have different personalities in different situations.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The clinical term 'Dissociative Identity Disorder' is standard in both professional contexts.
Connotations
In both varieties, the term can carry a stigmatizing connotation when used casually about someone's behavior.
Frequency
Similar frequency in both varieties, with informal figurative use being more common than clinical reference.
Grammar
How to Use “split personality” in a Sentence
have a split personalitybe diagnosed with split personalityshow signs of a split personalityVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “split personality” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The character seems to split his personality between the office and the pub.
- She didn't split her personality so much as compartmentalise her life.
American English
- The film villain splits his personality to evade detection.
- He doesn't have a disorder; he just splits his personality for different social groups.
adverb
British English
- He acted split-personality-like, charming clients but rude to staff.
- The government responded almost split-personality, supporting the policy while criticising it.
American English
- She managed the project split-personality-style, micromanaging some parts and ignoring others.
- The company operates split-personality, innovative in marketing but outdated in production.
adjective
British English
- His split-personality behaviour confused his colleagues.
- The novel explores a split-personality protagonist.
American English
- She gave a split-personality performance, gentle one moment and fierce the next.
- The team's split-personality strategy led to mixed results.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except metaphorically: 'The company has a split personality—innovative in tech but conservative in management.'
Academic
Used in psychology and psychiatry, though 'Dissociative Identity Disorder' is the preferred clinical term.
Everyday
Common in figurative, non-clinical descriptions of contradictory behavior.
Technical
A lay term for Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), characterized by identity fragmentation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “split personality”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “split personality”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “split personality”
- Using 'split personality' as a synonym for mood swings or bipolar disorder.
- Using the term in a flippant or stigmatizing way to describe normal human complexity.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the correct clinical term is Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). 'Split personality' is a lay term.
It's an informal and potentially insensitive figurative use. Terms like 'indecisive', 'inconsistent', or 'two-faced' might be more accurate and less stigmatizing.
They are distinct conditions. Schizophrenia typically involves psychosis, such as hallucinations or delusions, while Dissociative Identity Disorder involves a fragmentation of identity into distinct states.
Because it can trivialize a serious mental health condition (DID) when used casually to describe ordinary human contradiction or indecision, thereby perpetuating stigma.
A psychological condition where a person's identity is fragmented into two or more distinct personality states.
Split personality is usually formal in clinical contexts; informal in figurative use in register.
Split personality: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsplɪt ˌpɜː.sənˈæl.ə.ti/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsplɪt ˌpɝː.sənˈæl.ə.t̬i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Jekyll and Hyde personality”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a log SPLIT into two pieces—each piece has a different PERSONALITY.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE SELF IS A WHOLE OBJECT THAT CAN BE FRAGMENTED
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'split personality' considered most appropriate?