nickname
[ nik-neym ]
/ ˈnɪkˌneɪm /
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noun
a name added to or substituted for the proper name of a person, place, etc., as in affection, ridicule, or familiarity: He has always loathed his nickname of “Whizzer.”
a familiar form of a proper name, as Jim for James and Peg for Margaret.
verb (used with object), nick·named, nick·nam·ing.
to give a nickname to (a person, town, etc.); call by a nickname.
Archaic. to call by an incorrect or improper name; misname.
QUIZZES
THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?
Did you ever collect all those state quarters? Put them to good use on this quiz about curious state monikers and the facts around them.
Question 1 of 8
Mississippi’s nickname comes from the magnificent trees that grow there. What is it?
Origin of nickname
OTHER WORDS FROM nickname
nicknamer, nounun·nick·named, adjectiveWords nearby nickname
nickeltype, nicker, nicking, Nicklaus, nick-nack, nickname, nickpoint, Nicky, nicky nicky nine doors, nicky-tam, Nicobarese
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for nickname
British Dictionary definitions for nickname
nickname
/ (ˈnɪkˌneɪm) /
noun
a familiar, pet, or derisory name given to a person, animal, or placehis nickname was Lefty because he was left-handed
a shortened or familiar form of a person's nameJoe is a nickname for Joseph
verb
(tr) to call by a nickname; give a nickname to
Word Origin for nickname
C15 a nekename, mistaken division of an ekename an additional name, from eke addition + name
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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