alter ego

American  

[awl-ter ee-goh, eg-oh, al-] / ˈɔl tər ˈi goʊ, ˌɛg oʊ, ˈæl- /

noun

1. a second self; a perfect substitute or deputy.

   His adviser acts as his alter ego during his absence.

2. an inseparable friend.

3. another aspect of one's self.

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alter ego British  

/ ˈæltər ˈiːɡəʊ, ˈɛɡəʊ /

noun

1. a second self

2. a very close and intimate friend

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alter ego Cultural  

1. 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.”

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Etymology

Origin of alter ego

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

Example Sentences

In some regards this narrator, a husband and father, is Mr. Lerner’s most mature alter ego, but he often seems like the same schlemiel as the feckless grad student in “Leaving the Atocha Station.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

While Chen bristled when he was given the “Quad King” nickname, Malinin leans into his alter ego.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 7, 2026

PdVSA is effectively Venezuela’s alter ego, tied at the hip given that oil remains the lifeblood of the economy.

From Barron's • Jan. 5, 2026

This was around the time of Coogan's Portuguese crooner alter ego, Tony Ferrino.

From BBC • Jan. 4, 2026

If she were like her comic book alter ego, the Flint Avenger, she’d have this up in a nanosecond.

From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray

Related Words

• soul mate