pseudonymity

American  

[sood-n-im-i-tee] / ˌsud nˈɪm ɪ ti /

noun

1. pseudonymous character.

2. use of a pseudonym.

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Usage

What does pseudonymity mean? Pseudonymity is the state of using or being published under a pseudonym—a false or fictitious name, especially one used by an author. 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 pseudonymity is also used in the context of online communication that involves users identifying themselves with names other than their real names. Example: The pseudonymity of some online platforms can make it difficult to tell the difference between bots and real users.

Etymology

Origin of pseudonymity

First recorded in 1875–80; pseudonym + -ity

Example Sentences

In allotting greater control over how users presented themselves online – through, for example, pseudonymity and relaxed content moderation – Tumblr stood out as a bastion for creative expression.

From Salon • Jun. 20, 2022

That way, Twitter could still potentially “authenticate all real humans,” as Musk has called for, without banning anonymity or pseudonymity.

From Washington Post • Apr. 27, 2022

But Ms Minshall argued that clamping down on anonymous accounts would "fail to deal with the problems of online abuse" and could damage people who rely on "pseudonymity".

From BBC • Oct. 23, 2021

Online anonymity and pseudonymity have survived accusations of ruining the internet for as long as people have been logging on; they have been abused by bad actors.

From New York Times • Jul. 31, 2021

And what then of the comfortable pseudonymity of Andr� Duchemin?

From Alias the Lone Wolf by Vance, Louis Joseph