Pseudonym, has its origins in the Greek word pseudōnymos, which means "bearing a false name." Greek speakers formed their word by combining pseud-, meaning "false," and onyma, meaning "name." French speakers adopted the Greek word as pseudonyme, and English speakers later modified the French word into pseudonym. Many celebrated authors have used pseudonyms. Samuel Clemens wrote under the pseudonym "Mark Twain," Charles Lutwidge Dodgson assumed the pseudonym "Lewis Carroll," and Mary Ann Evans used "George Eliot" as her pseudonym.
Mark Twain is the pseudonym of the American writer Samuel L. Clemens.
the most notorious serial killer of the 19th century remains known only by the pseudonym of Jack the Ripper
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All users needed to provide was a pseudonym, an age, a location, and an indication of their gender.—Katie Ebner-Landy, The New Yorker, 22 Feb. 2025 Alex is a pseudonym for one of our research subjects.—Deborah Omontese, The Conversation, 21 Feb. 2025 Everyone gets a pseudonym, and geographic locations and other details are obscured.—Adrienne Raphel, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2025 Editor’s picks At the National Institute of Health, Amber, who asked to use a pseudonym to protect her privacy, worked in the Office of AIDS Research.—Fortesa Latifi, Rolling Stone, 21 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pseudonym
Word History
Etymology
French pseudonyme, from Greek pseudōnymos bearing a false name, from pseud- + onyma name — more at name
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