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Glite Dictionary
unique identifier

unique identifier

2 3.8
A code, number or name that stands for one record in a system
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : identificador único
  • In one set, 8 out of more than 700 total records were missing any kind of system number or unique identifier.
  • assign a unique identifier
  • unique identifier number
  • using a unique identifier

So that's DNA is not a unique identifier for true identity.

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Examples

  • The incentive for the survey was gift cards to the Illini Union Bookstore that had to be picked up, and participants were required to sign for them using a unique identifier not linked to a name to preserve user anonymity.

    Academic text (2015)

  • Microsoft's activation servers create a unique identifier for your PC based on the hardware that's installed in it.

    Linus Tech Tips

  • Is there some unique identifier for a song?

  • The point of that was they use the credit agency data to obtain unique identifiers on each registered voter in each state.

    ReasonTV

  • This is a unique identifier for each row and the name is Evan.

  • If a voter has neither a license nor a Social Security number, then states are supposed to assign a separate, unique identifier.

    Academic text (2008)

  • The session ID is a unique identifier that is chosen afresh every time the connection is reestablished.

    Academic text (2011)

  • Each distinct hook has a unique identifier, the hook ID, which is used to distinguish between the various hooks.

    Academic text (1994)

  • To create a holdings/check-in record that links to its appropriate bibliographic record, the holdings/check-in record must match on a single, unique identifier found in the bibliographic record.

    Academic text (2013)

  • The International Standard Book Number is a unique identifier assigned to books.

Synonyms

number
vsunique identifier
∞ 1.0

A set of digits that identifies something like a phone or room

allows codes or names instead of only numeric values within a system
label
vsunique identifier
187 1.0

A word or short phrase that describes people and things

is focused on a single item's unique code inside a system rather than general description
designation
vsunique identifier
32 5.3

A name or title used to identify something, showing its kind

marks a single item inside a system rather than classify broadly
identifier
vsunique identifier
  • Specialized
22 4.9

A word, number and symbol that shows a person or thing

is a code, number, or name used to mark a single item within a system

How Unique

unique identifier
  • Specialized
2 3.8
identifier
  • Specialized
22 4.9

Surface Forms

unique identifier singular
unique identifiers plural

Morphology

unique + identifier

The meaning is directly compositional: 'unique' (only one) modifies 'identifier' (a label or code that identifies), so the phrase denotes an identifier that is one-of-a-kind. This construction is straightforward and cross-linguistically common in technical and everyday contexts, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Unique identifier comes from the idea of giving one thing a special mark. The word unique means 'one of a kind' and identifier is something that 'picks out' or 'names' that thing, so a unique identifier lets you find a single item among many.