username

American  

[yoo-zer-neym] / ˈju zərˌneɪm /

noun

Computers.

usernames plural

1. Also called sign-in name,.  Also called login name,.  Also called sign-on name.  Also called logon name,.  a unique sequence of characters used to identify a user and allow access to a computer system, computer network, or online account.

2. the part of an email address before the @ sign.

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username British  

/ ˈjuːzəˌneɪm /

noun

1. computing a name that someone uses for identification purposes when logging onto a computer, using chatrooms, or as part of his or her e-mail address

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• usernames
  plural

Etymology

Origin of username

First recorded in 1970–75; user ¹ ( def. ) + name ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

username usernames

Carter admitted failing to tell police about his online username - part of his order requirements - and was handed an immediate 34-week jail term.

From BBC ● May 8, 2026

Beyer, who streams on Twitch under the username Central_Committee, is from Pennsylvania and recently moved to Los Angeles.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 1, 2026

Ilyas Lebleu, an A.I. research student based in France who edits Wikipedia under the username Chaotic Enby, first wrote the proposal that was debated and adopted as the site’s A.I. ban.

From Slate ● Apr. 1, 2026

She can be reached on Signal at the username JournoLiz.80.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 5, 2026

Phone Friend was pulled up on my screen— their username was EyesOnTheSky_Traveler—but I hadn’t added them to my friend list yet.

From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows

"Users still require a phone number to use WhatsApp and we've built multiple layers of defense against scams into usernames."

From Barron's ● Jul. 2, 2026

"There is a possibility that bad actors may claim usernames... and message other users while pretending to be someone they are not," the English-language daily quoted a senior government official as saying.

From Barron's ● Jul. 2, 2026

He used usernames such as "Trans Girl Leah", "amzyyyy09", and "ComeDeal" to target victims in London and across the UK.

From BBC ● Jun. 19, 2026

Pauken gave Person 1 a laptop and a mobile phone, which had encrypted messaging apps connected to an account with usernames Catherine and Cathy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026

I look at her cell, and yes, there are some names I recognize, because they have some ego-driven usernames that they mix in with the instrument they play.

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold