alias

American  

[ey-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

Etymology

Origin of alias

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

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

Citing law enforcement sources, NBC4 reported that Fisher, under the alias Richard Graydon, worked as an executive at Immix Biopharma, a biotech pharmaceutical company in West Los Angeles.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026

Authorities allege Chen also submitted marriage applications using an alias, “Vicky Liang.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026

Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, alias 'Nino Guerrero,' was "neutralized" in southeastern Bolivar state, Venezuela's Ministry of Communications said in a statement Friday.

From Barron's ● Jun. 13, 2026

We contacted him using an alias, and it only took a couple of emails and a short phone call to arrange a next day delivery from him.

From BBC ● Jun. 7, 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

Graydon’s real name, federal authorities said, was Ronald L. Fischer, and he was a Rhode Island fugitive who used more than a dozen aliases to avoid capture for more than 20 years.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026

They had checked into the hotel using authentic Lebanese passports under aliases.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 24, 2026

Of all the aliases and titles he’s fought for, “author” might seem to be the most unlikely.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 23, 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

There was a time when that was one of many aliases she had.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti

Related Words

• assumed name
• moniker
• pseudonym
• stage name