nickname

American  

[nik-neym] / ˈnɪkˌneɪm /

noun

1. 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.”

2. a familiar form of a proper name, as Jim for James and Peg for Margaret.

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verb (used with object)

nicknamed, nicknaming

1. to give a nickname to (a person, town, etc.); call by a nickname.

2. Archaic. to call by an incorrect or improper name; misname.

nickname British  

/ ˈnɪkˌneɪm /

noun

1. a familiar, pet, or derisory name given to a person, animal, or place

   his nickname was Lefty because he was left-handed

2. a shortened or familiar form of a person's name

   Joe is a nickname for Joseph

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verb

1. (tr) to call by a nickname; give a nickname to

Other Word Forms

• nicknamer noun
• unnicknamed adjective

Etymology

Origin of nickname

1400–50; late Middle English nekename, for ekename (the phrase an ekename being taken as a nekename ). See eke ², name; newt

Example Sentences

Shareholders don’t know if Abel can channel the stock-picking magic of his predecessor, who earned the nickname the Oracle of Omaha.

From The Wall Street Journal

"I was even nicknamed The Librarian by a few people because I have this innate ability to read people like a book," he explained.

From BBC

Ten years ago they established a counselling facility in Hamilton called the Manda Centre, the family's nickname for Amanda.

From BBC

Prior to this public revelation, options industry veteran Brent Kochuba, founder of trading analytics firm SpotGamma, had speculated about the existence of a trader nicknamed “Captain Condor” for more than a year.

From MarketWatch

Hood has won over the Ally Pally crowd, with his nickname 'Happy Feet' perfectly fitting his laid-back and humorous character.

From BBC

Related Words

• epithet
• moniker
• sobriquet
• style
• tag