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

Once the video went viral, it appears Eatherly realized he was on to something and soon created his alias, Chud the Builder.

From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2026

However, she had previously published one book called How Not to Dal Dy Dir under the alias Izzy Wyn-Thomas, her lawyers confirmed on her behalf in the BBC Sounds podcast Secrets of the Salt Path.

From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026

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

Prosecutors alleged that Rogers dealt with a Chinese handler who, under the alias Hummin Lee, posed as an academic when he introduced himself at a conference in 2013.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 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

He says he has a few clients who are so secretive, he doesn’t know their real identity; they use aliases on the paperwork.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026

People signed up their pets, used aliases and played games with mailing addresses to bilk the company out of new releases for less than the cost of a penny.

From Salon ● Aug. 21, 2026

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

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 24, 2026

Authorities said his aliases included “El Jefe,” “Public Enemy” and “James Conrad Kin.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 23, 2026

Bertillon believed that each man’s measurements were unique and thus could be used to penetrate the aliases that criminals deployed in moving from city to city.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

Related Words

• assumed name
• moniker
• pseudonym
• stage name