deadname
noun
the previous name of someone who has changed that name, especially the pretransition first name of a trans person.
deadnaming
-
present participleof deadname.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The agency posted to X on Friday: “We have corrected this mistake and apologize for deadnaming the lake.”
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 1, 2026
Twitter enacted the policy against deadnaming, or using a transgender person’s name before they transitioned, as well as purposefully using the wrong gender for someone as a form of harassment, in 2018.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 18, 2023
The policy changes also add to a ban on hateful ideologies, explicitly banning deadnaming, misgendering, and misogyny, as well as content promoting conversion therapy.
From The Verge ● Feb. 8, 2022
That doesn’t mean you have to “cause a fuss,” necessarily, but you can politely object to deadnaming without “causing a fuss.”
From Slate ● Nov. 23, 2020
Calling someone by their rejected birth name is termed "deadnaming".
From BBC ● Dec. 6, 2015
