anonymity

American  

[an-uh-nim-i-tee] / ˌæn əˈnɪm ɪ ti /

noun

plural

anonymities

1. the state or quality of being anonymous.

2. an anonymous person.

   some fine poetry attributed to anonymities.

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Other Word Forms

• nonanonymity
  noun

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."

Example Sentences

Anonymity helped the street artist move unchecked but made some collectors wary; ”I feel more comfortable knowing who he is,” says collector Peter Brant.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2026

Anonymity meant to protect actually flattens their experience.

From Salon • Dec. 17, 2025

Anonymity didn’t stand a chance as Sinjin watched Hagen and Logan Webber locked in a razor-edged three-setter against the Palm Beach Passion that twice spilled past regulation.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 13, 2025

Anonymity is an important part of the crypto ethos.

From BBC • Sep. 19, 2024

Anonymity was one of the major perks of the OASIS.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline