username

American  

[yoo-zer-naym] / ˈju zərˌneɪm /

noun

Computers.

• usernames
  plural

1. Also called sign-in name, login name, sign-on name, logon name. a unique sequence of characters used to identify a user and allow access to a computer system, computer network, or online account.

2. the part of an email address before the @ sign.

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username British  

/ ˈjuːzəˌneɪm /

noun

1. computing a name that someone uses for identification purposes when logging onto a computer, using chatrooms, or as part of his or her e-mail address

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• usernames
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of username

First recorded in 1970–75; user ¹ ( def. ) + name ( def. )

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

username usernames

“You should be handing out full-size candy bars,” says a TikTok creator by the username Z. Hartleben in a clip that’s drawn almost 14,000 likes and hundreds of comments.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 30, 2026

One cybersecurity expert expressed concern that such a vast breach could have occurred based on one compromised username and password.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026

Dean can be reached on Signal at the username deanseal.101.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026

Agent 47, and a logistics man with the username "1", then told Natland to get a taxi to Huddersfield.

From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026

He went to the computer but realized it needed a log-on username and password.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti

Chainalysis, a blockchain analytics firm used by police, government agencies and others, disclosed a hack Friday that compromised usernames and email addresses.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026

"Users still require a phone number to use WhatsApp and we've built multiple layers of defense against scams into usernames."

From Barron's ● Jul. 2, 2026

"There is a possibility that bad actors may claim usernames... and message other users while pretending to be someone they are not," the English-language daily quoted a senior government official as saying.

From Barron's ● Jul. 2, 2026

The Meta-owned firm described usernames as a privacy feature.

From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026

I look at her cell, and yes, there are some names I recognize, because they have some ego-driven usernames that they mix in with the instrument they play.

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold

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