alias

American  

[ay-lee-uhs] / ˈeɪ li əs /

noun

• aliases
  plural

1. a false name used to conceal one's identity; an assumed name.

   The police files indicate that “Smith” is an alias for Simpson.

   Synonyms:

   pseudonym, nom de plume, nom de guerre

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adverb

1. at another time; in another place; in other circumstances; otherwise: “Simpson alias Smith” means that Simpson in other circumstances has called himself Smith.

alias British  

/ ˈeɪlɪəs /

adverb

1. at another time or place known as or named

   Dylan, alias Zimmerman

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noun

1. an assumed name

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• aliases
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of alias

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin: “at another time, otherwise”; see also else

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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."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

alias aliases

After leaving Cybotron, Atkins also conjured a new alias, Model 500, for his solo records in 1985.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2026

Translation: This Vision has a purpose beyond figuring out his role in this world, something he put off by hiding in a pub under the alias of Sherwood Ellis and posing as human.

From Salon ● Oct. 23, 2026

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

Prosecutors alleged that Rogers dealt with a Chinese handler who, under the alias Hummin Lee, posed as an academic when he introduced himself at a conference in 2013.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026

I was fleeing without much money in my pocket and under the alias of my new gender.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

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

The 28-year-old Iraqi Kurd had operated for several years under a number of aliases.

From BBC ● May 19, 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

Bertillon believed that each man’s measurements were unique and thus could be used to penetrate the aliases that criminals deployed in moving from city to city.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

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Related Words

• assumed name
• moniker
• pseudonym
• stage name

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