alias
Americannoun
-
aliases
plural
adverb
adverb
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of alias
First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin: “at another time, otherwise”; see also else
Explanation
Your alias could be as important as the name you use when you’re on the run or as simple as your screen name on a social networking site. Either way, an alias is a temporary name, one you don’t use all the time or for every occasion. If you crash your parents' lovingly-restored sports car into the garage when you aren't even supposed to be driving it, it might be easier to skip town and live under an assumed name, or alias, than deal with their reaction. Alias can also be used as an adverb to mean "also known as." Your parents might be less than thrilled when you introduce your new boyfriend, "John Smith, alias Lock-Jaw Johnnie, wanted in 39 states."
Vocabulary lists containing alias
300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
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Bud, Not Buddy
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The Westing Game
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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.
See Examples For:
Once the video went viral, it appears Eatherly realized he was on to something and soon created his alias, Chud the Builder.
From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2026
Authorities allege Chen also submitted marriage applications using an alias, “Vicky Liang.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026
Hussain first contacted the woman using the fake alias of Mick Renney in April 2024 on social media.
From BBC ● Jun. 30, 2026
Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, alias Nino Guerrero, or "child warrior," died at age 42 in a raid announced Friday by President Donald Trump and later confirmed by Venezuela.
From Barron's ● Jun. 13, 2026
The agents never registered Burkhart in hotels under his own name, and referred to him by the alias “E. J. Ernest.”
From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann
People signed up their pets, used aliases and played games with mailing addresses to bilk the company out of new releases for less than the cost of a penny.
From Salon ● Aug. 21, 2026
They had checked into the hotel using authentic Lebanese passports under aliases.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 24, 2026
Said, 48 years old, holds two British passports, one that expired this month and a second expiring in 2029, and has used several aliases, according to the U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 30, 2026
Authorities said his aliases included “El Jefe,” “Public Enemy” and “James Conrad Kin.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 23, 2026
Aunt Kitty held her tongue, but I knew she wanted to remind Mr. Pinkerton to maintain our aliases and call me Charity.
From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan
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.
