pseudonym
Americannoun
noun
Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
- pseudonymity noun
Etymology
Origin of pseudonym
First recorded in 1840–50; from Greek pseudṓnymon “false name”; pseud-, -onym
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.
Eighteen-year-old Fernando Hernández García, who is using a pseudonym to protect the safety of his family in Mexico, is speaking on behalf of his 11-year-old sister.
From Salon • Mar. 26, 2026
Charles-Édouard Jeanneret—far better known by his pseudonym, Le Corbusier—was the great guru of Modernist architecture.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026
The makers of the documentary, The Investigation of Lucy Letby, have given Baby D the pseudonym "Zoe".
From BBC • Feb. 4, 2026
"It's inhuman to live like this, a prisoner in your own home," Ana told AFP using a pseudonym, as do her husband and son.
From Barron's • Feb. 1, 2026
One of Gey’s colleagues told me that Gey created the pseudonym to throw journalists off the trail of Henrietta’s real identity.
From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
