pseudonym

[sood-n-im]

noun

1. a fictitious name used especially by an author to conceal their identity; pen name.

   Synonyms: nom de plume, alias

pseudonym

/ ˈsjuːdəˌnɪm /

noun

1. a fictitious name adopted, esp by an author

Other Word Forms

• pseudonymity noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of pseudonym¹

First recorded in 1840–50; from Greek pseudṓnymon “false name”; pseud-, -onym

Word History and Origins

Origin of pseudonym¹

C19: via French from Greek pseudōnumon

Example Sentences

But, before long, Allen hears of a relationship her husband appears to have with "Madeline" - a pseudonym - which falls outside their arrangement.

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Others think she simply moved far away, changed her name and continued to write under a pseudonym.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

With ultra-low budgets, many of the productions are non-union, prompting some writers and actors to work under pseudonyms to avoid facing sanctions from their unions, said several people who work on the shows.

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Another woman, who testified under the pseudonym Jane, said she felt pressured to participate in similar encounters even if she was unwell.

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The editorial—one in a series published under a pseudonym lending them the authority of China’s top economic policymakers—doubled down on Beijing’s tech-focused industrial policy.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• alias 
• stage name www.thesaurus.com

When To Use

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.