anonymity

American  

[an-uh-nim-i-tee] / ˌæn əˈnɪm ɪ ti /

noun

anonymities plural

1. the state or quality of being anonymous.

2. an anonymous person.

   some fine poetry attributed to anonymities.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonanonymity
  noun

Inflected Forms

noun

• anonymities
  plural

Etymology

Origin of anonymity

First recorded in 1810–20; anonym(ous) + -ity, or from French anonymité

Explanation

If you want a little bit of invisibility, you might seek anonymity, or being anonymous and nameless. He was a very wealthy man, and he gave most of his money away with quiet anonymity, so no one knew who was helping. The noun anonymity comes from a Greek word meaning "without a name." If you have anonymity, you have namelessness, and people will not know who you are. Some words that are the opposite of anonymity are "celebrity" and "fame." Sometimes people request anonymity, as in "he phoned the police to report the break-in across the street but requested anonymity so the burglars wouldn't know who turned them in."

Example Sentences

"That became a habit, they're used to it," said one 29-year-old veteran of the capital's elite party scene, who like other interviewees requested anonymity for security reasons.

From Barron's • Jun. 12, 2026

However, no VPN can guarantee complete anonymity, especially if users are logged into personal accounts or using identifiable services.

From Salon • Jun. 10, 2026

The person spoke on condition of anonymity and would not discuss the dollar figure involved in the transaction.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 4, 2026

The witness is married to Complainant A and cannot be named to protect her anonymity.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026

Sailing across the ocean among half a thousand perfect strangers conveyed an anonymity in which my grandparents could re-create themselves.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides