pseudonym
Americannoun
noun
Usage
What is a pseudonym? A pseudonym is a false or fictitious name, especially one used by an author.When an author uses a pseudonym, it can also be called a pen name or a nom de plume.There are many reasons an author may choose to use a pseudonym instead of their own name, such as to avoid controversy or to create a persona. Many women authors throughout history have used a male or gender-neutral pseudonym to get their work published due to bias against women writers. A famous example is Mary Ann Evans, who used the pseudonym George Eliot.The word pseudonym can refer to a fake or false name used by anyone, not just writers. It’s typically used so a person can remain anonymous. In legal proceedings, the pseudonyms John Doe, Jane Doe, Richard Roe, and Jane Roe are used in when a person’s name is being kept anonymous. Such names can also be called anonyms.Example: A lot of people use pseudonyms when posting controversial opinions online.
Other Word Forms
- pseudonymity noun
Etymology
Origin of pseudonym
First recorded in 1840–50; from Greek pseudṓnymon “false name”; pseud-, -onym
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.
More than a pseudonym, these poets and writers had different backgrounds and influences.
From Los Angeles Times
Sunshine is not her real name - she has asked to use a pseudonym because of fears she could be targeted for her actions.
From BBC
Perhaps she's a real singer, stuck in a contractual dispute with her label, and releasing music under a pseudonym.
From BBC
As she turned over ideas for a pseudonym, Tergit thought of the German word Gitter—the metal grill or grating on a window or a gate—and reversed the syllables.
In a series of voice notes from Ukraine, Omar, speaking under a pseudonym for his safety, describes how he ended up trapped and terrified in the war zone.
From BBC
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.
