alias

[ ey-lee-uhs ]

noun

, plural a·li·as·es.

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

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

/ ˈeɪlɪəs /

adverb

1. at another time or place known as or named

   Dylan, alias Zimmerman

noun

1. an assumed name

Word History and Origins

Origin of alias¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of alias¹

C16: from Latin aliās (adv) otherwise, at another time, from alius other

Example Sentences

He stopped to pick up a wrapper near our resting spot, explaining that’s why his alias is Trash.

From Outside Online

In that spirit, consider email aliases, a useful feature found in popular services like Gmail, Microsoft Outlook, and Apple Mail.

From Popular-Science

More than 130 workers also attached their email aliases to the post.

From Washington Post

They employed aliases and cover stories to relay money, intelligence and threats.

From ProPublica

The indictment was read out in court as “the state of Texas versus Jack Rubenstein, alias Jack Ruby,” leading Belli to shout, “He answers to the name of Jack Ruby.”

From Washington Post

He was living under the alias Alonso Rivera Muñoz as a middling real estate developer and art collector in Querétaro.

From The Daily Beast

Part of the alias and the disguise is masking racism with the mechanisms of large, diverse institutions.

From The Daily Beast

Miller, who also uses the alias Frazier Glenn Cross Jr., has an extensive résumé of hate.

From The Daily Beast

As far as I could tell, only one of my friends had managed to ditch her adolescent alias along the way—and with good reason.

From The Daily Beast

An older person interested in history, I would suggest Alias Grace or The Blind Assassin.

From The Daily Beast

Billy Towler—alias Walleye—looked after him with an air of uncertainty.

From Project Gutenberg

I've asked them and their friends to come down here to headquarters for the unveiling of Black Hood, alias the Eye.

From Project Gutenberg

"You might spare me that 'alias, the Eye' business," Black Hood said, some of his old-time banter returning.

From Project Gutenberg

And up sprang the little black figure of Pizotti, alias Plornish, and the next moment he had leaped to the ice!

From Project Gutenberg

Widow of a workman named Pierre alias Bougival; she was usually designated by the latter name.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• assumed name
• moniker
• pseudonym
• stage name