pseudonym

American  

[sood-n-im] / ˈsud n ɪm /

noun

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

   Synonyms:

   nom de plume, alias

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pseudonym British  

/ ˈsjuːdəˌnɪm /

noun

1. a fictitious name adopted, esp by an author

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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”; see pseud-, -onym

Explanation

A pseudonym is a name that someone, often a writer, uses instead of their real name. The real name of Dr. Seuss was Theodore Seuss Geisel. Mark Twain was a pseudonym for the writer Samuel Clemens. A near synonym of pseudonym is pen name. Similarly, an allonym is the name of an important person in history that is taken by a writer as a pseudonym. Some of Shakespeare's plays might have been written by other writers using an allonym. If an actor uses a fake name, it is usually called a stage name. And there's no fancy work for nickname — it's just what your family and friends call you.

Example Sentences

He said Lavrynovych was offered payment to set the fires by a contact using the name or pseudonym "El Money" on the Telegram messaging app.

From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026

The man, who was identified by a pseudonym, said he and his wife are afraid of what their future will look like.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 28, 2026

“Ramon” was a pseudonym Paul McCartney had used in 1960; the Ramones simply added an “e.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 27, 2026

They bought him a ticket to go back home to Oklahoma City, and told him he’d be traveling under a pseudonym because his name had been leaked to the media.

From Slate • Apr. 19, 2026

It is not a front for something else, not a facade, not a pseudonym.

From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin

Related Words

• alias
• stage name