pseudonym

[sood-n-im]

noun

1. a fictitious name used especially by an author to conceal their identity; pen name.

   Synonyms: nom de plume, alias

pseudonym

/ ˈsjuːdəˌnɪm /

noun

1. a fictitious name adopted, esp by an author

Other Word Forms

• pseudonymity noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of pseudonym¹

First recorded in 1840–50; from Greek pseudṓnymon “false name”; pseud-, -onym

Word History and Origins

Origin of pseudonym¹

C19: via French from Greek pseudōnumon

Example Sentences

"They deported my wife back to Iran even though she is a Christian," Ali says - the BBC has given him a pseudonym to protect the identity of him and his wife.

Read more on BBC

Mr. Brooke-Hitching provides no way for the reader to fact-check his assertions, but he does offer a glossary to clear up the meanings of such terms as buoyant, pseudonym and venom.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The women, who usually use only their first names or online pseudonyms, are expected to sit at the studio table for up to nine hours, with no breaks.

Read more on Salon

US rapper Eminem has taken legal action against an Australian beachwear company called Swim Shady, saying its name is too similar to his trademarked rap pseudonym Slim Shady.

Read more on BBC

"I felt bad for my other colleagues and friends at other agencies," said Steve, a government worker in his 50s who asked to use a pseudonym.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• alias 
• stage name www.thesaurus.com

When To Use

What is a pseudonym?

A pseudonym is a false or fictitious name, especially one used by an author.When an author uses a pseudonym, it can also be called a pen name or a nom de plume.There are many reasons an author may choose to use a pseudonym instead of their own name, such as to avoid controversy or to create a persona. Many women authors throughout history have used a male or gender-neutral pseudonym to get their work published due to bias against women writers. A famous example is Mary Ann Evans, who used the pseudonym George Eliot.The word pseudonym can refer to a fake or false name used by anyone, not just writers. It’s typically used so a person can remain anonymous. In legal proceedings, the pseudonyms John Doe, Jane Doe, Richard Roe, and Jane Roe are used in​ when a person’s name is being kept anonymous. Such names can also be called anonyms.Example: A lot of people use pseudonyms when posting controversial opinions online.