Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of anonymity
First recorded in 1810–20; anonym(ous) + -ity, or from French anonymité
Explanation
If you want a little bit of invisibility, you might seek anonymity, or being anonymous and nameless. He was a very wealthy man, and he gave most of his money away with quiet anonymity, so no one knew who was helping. The noun anonymity comes from a Greek word meaning "without a name." If you have anonymity, you have namelessness, and people will not know who you are. Some words that are the opposite of anonymity are "celebrity" and "fame." Sometimes people request anonymity, as in "he phoned the police to report the break-in across the street but requested anonymity so the burglars wouldn't know who turned them in."
Vocabulary lists containing anonymity
"I Stand Here Ironing" by Tillie Olsen
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Allegiant
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Vocabulary Video Contest (2013) - List 1
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
She waived her right to anonymity and said she was "furious" that Phillips would not face prison.
From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026
Three of the victims who waived their right to anonymity were present at the sentencing earlier.
From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026
One street vendor, who requested anonymity, lost all her pirated merchandise in a recent police crackdown.
From Barron's • Jun. 6, 2026
The person spoke on condition of anonymity and would not discuss the dollar figure involved in the transaction.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 4, 2026
Doesn’t she have seven more months of anonymity?
From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
