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• code name
  code name

  noun

  a name assigned to conceal the real identity of a person, as a spy, or to conceal the existence or purpose of a plan, military operation, etc.
• code-name
  code-name

  verb (used with object)

  to assign a code name to.

code name

¹ American  

[kohd neym] / ˈkoʊd ˌneɪm /

noun

1. a name assigned to conceal the real identity of a person, as a spy, or to conceal the existence or purpose of a plan, military operation, etc.

2. Also called code phrase.  a word or phrase assigned a meaning understood only by those who are secretly informed of it.

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code-name ² American  

[kohd-neym] / ˈkoʊdˌneɪm /

verb (used with object)

code-named, code-naming

1. to assign a code name to.

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Etymology

Origin of code name¹

First recorded in 1915–20

Origin of code-name²

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

Southwest began testing new boarding months before assigned seating was announced using the code name Project USA.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 15, 2025

The latter is salient because the name Oracle comes from the code name of a CIA-funded project that Ellison worked on.

From Barron's • Oct. 10, 2025

The code name for the massive operation to catch Miller, in the summer and fall of 1984, was “Whipworm,” a reference to an intestinal parasite.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2025

Operation Interflex is the code name given to the UK Armed Forces' training programme, which has been created to develop and prepare Ukrainian recruits to fight their country's Russian invaders.

From BBC • Feb. 24, 2024

"The agents got the lists from those registrants. They were looking for Neubauer, or his code name of Nicholas."

From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple