alter ego

[ awl-ter ee-goh, eg-oh, al- ]

/ ˈɔl tər ˈi goʊ, ˌɛg oʊ, ˈæl- /

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See synonyms for alter ego on Thesaurus.com

noun

a second self; a perfect substitute or deputy: His adviser acts as his alter ego during his absence.

an inseparable friend.

another aspect of one's self.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of alter ego

1530–40; <Latin (Cicero), probably translation of Greek állos egṓ, héteros egṓ another I

Words nearby alter ego

alterative, altercate, altercation, altered chord, altered state of consciousness, alter ego, alter idem, alterity, altern, alternant, alternate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use alter ego in a sentence

Usagi Tsukino, whose alter ego is Sailor Moon, is the star of another popular 1990s anime, and she welcomed many women into what had previously been a predominantly male fan base.
Anime and manga will take center stage at the Olympics. It could fuel a boom in interest.|Kyle Melnick|July 22, 2021|Washington Post
George nicknamed himself “Playoff P” before his first Oklahoma City playoff series, declaring his alter ego a “fun guy to watch” while boasting that he would shut down then-rookie Donovan Mitchell.
Who’s The Real ‘Playoff P’?|Jared Dubin|June 28, 2021|FiveThirtyEight
Another groundbreaking tool he used to bring those explorations into human psychology to life was the use of alter egos, all of whom he voiced.
How DMX's It's Dark and Hell Is Hot Changed the Course of Hip-Hop Forever|Andrew R. Chow|April 9, 2021|Time
The notorious “Gainsbarre,” his alter ego who had practically spit venom at her on set, was swapped for the more tender persona he carefully concealed.
Jane Birkin is back with a new album, but her presence is everlasting|Jeff Weiss|March 19, 2021|Washington Post

It didn’t feel that weird, even for a fan who had attended 423 consecutive Bills games and developed both an alter ego — “Pinto Ron,” after his red car and a mistaken identity hardened into lore — and a pregame ritual.
‘Bills Mafia’ waited a generation for a team like this. It’s had to embrace it from afar.|Adam Kilgore|January 7, 2021|Washington Post
They dye their hair and alter their clothes, but not enough to attract attention from authorities.
North Korea’s Secret Movie Bootleggers: How Western Films Make It Into the Hermit Kingdom|Lizzie Crocker|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“You know, I never had a monstrous ego,” Mailer confides to a friend in l987.
Mailer’s Letters Pack a Punch and a Surprising Degree of Sweetness|Ronald K. Fried|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
All I had in those days was a monstrous lack of ego which therefore required huge injections of actorly ego and misled people.
Mailer’s Letters Pack a Punch and a Surprising Degree of Sweetness|Ronald K. Fried|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He even allegedly had a nickname for his violent, aggressive alter ego: Rick.
Creed Singer Scott Stapp’s Fall From Grace: From 40 Million Albums Sold to Living in a Holiday Inn|Marlow Stern|November 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Some of the things Lawrence had to alter from the book involved President Coin, played by Julianne Moore.
‘Mockingjay’s’ Mastermind: Francis Lawrence on the Book vs. Movie, ISIS Parallels, and More|Marlow Stern|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Sinus duo sunt maiores, vastque; alter is, qui S. Laurentij gurges; alter, qui Francius appellatur.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
The Federal Reserve Board reserves the right to add to, alter, or amend these regulations.
Readings in Money and Banking|Chester Arthur Phillips
Cert alter nostrm magnam itineris partem ger, debilitatsque iacuit.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
Increpaui ego, vt potui, per interpret paganicos hos mores in iam Christianis.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
Nam neque id diu fuit, & semper altero decumbente, alter stetit.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various

British Dictionary definitions for alter ego

alter ego

/ (ˈæltər ˈiːɡəʊ, ˈɛɡəʊ) /

noun

a second self

a very close and intimate friend

Word Origin for alter ego

Latin: other self

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for alter ego

alter ego

[ (awl-tuhr ee-goh) ]

An intimate friend, considered another side of oneself: “He was my alter ego; we were always picking up each other's thoughts.” Alter ego is Latin for “another I.”

alter ego

Origin of alter ego

Words nearby alter ego

Words related to alter ego

How to use alter ego in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for alter ego

Word Origin for alter ego

Cultural definitions for alter ego