Dictionary.com | Meanings & Definitions of English Words (original) (raw)
pseudonym
noun
- a fictitious name used especially by an author to conceal their identity; pen name.
Synonyms: nom de plume, alias
/ ˈsjuːdəˌnɪm /
noun
- a fictitious name adopted, esp by an author
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Derived Forms
- ˌpseudoˈnymity, noun
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Word History and Origins
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Word History and Origins
Origin of pseudonym1
C19: via French from Greek pseudōnumon
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Example Sentences
Her story was told anonymously under the pseudonym “Alice” in the documentary, and her voice was also distorted to protect her identity.
“That doesn’t mean somebody can’t use a pseudonym to go online perhaps some people for work reasons or privacy reasons who don’t want to go online under their own name,” she said.
Steven, who is using a pseudonym to protect his privacy, told Salon in a phone interview.
“That's when things started to change,” said Stephanie, granted a pseudonym by Salon to discuss her situation due to safety concerns.
Most strikingly, she never used a pseudonym even though she wrote openly of "occupied" territory and referred to those who collaborated with the Russians as "traitors".
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More About Pseudonym
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.
Where does pseudonym come from?
The first records of the word pseudonym come from the 1800s. It comes from the Greek pseudṓnymon, meaning “false name.” The prefix pseudo- means “false,” and -onym means “name” (it can also mean “word,” and is used in words like synonym and acronym). The adjective pseudonymous is recorded earlier, in the early 1700s.
The pseudonyms of actors and entertainers are often called stage names (Cary Grant’s real name was Archibald Leach; Lady Gaga’s real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta). For writers, they’re often called pen names or noms de plume. Some famous ones are George Orwell (real name Eric Arthur Blair), Lewis Carroll (real name Charles Lutwidge Dodgson), and Evelyn Waugh (real name Arthur St. John).
Authors use pseudonyms for many reasons. Sometimes, a famous author uses a pseudonym to publish a work in a genre that’s different from the one they’re known for, like when Agatha Christie published non-mystery novels as Mary Westmacott. Or just to write more books, like Stephen King did with the pseudonym Richard Bachman.
Sometimes, the fake name is intended to create a persona, such as Diedrich Knickerbocker (real name Washington Irving), Dr. Suess (real name Theodor Geisel), or Lemony Snicket (real name Daniel Handler).
Mark Twain, the famous pseudonym of Samuel Langhorne Clemens, is said to come from the phrase that riverboat captains would shout out when the boat was in two fathoms of water.
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How is pseudonym used in real life?
Pseudonyms can be used for all kinds of reasons, but they’re most often associated with writers.
I mean…sure, make their real names more visible, but the fact that women had to publish under male pseudonyms is a really important part of women’s history & shouldn’t be scrubbed out https://t.co/vsNSIPfFyf
— Caroline Criado Perez (@CCriadoPerez) August 14, 2020
A Colorado Springs police officer has been suspended after he used a pseudonym to post—on more than one occasion—the words “KILL THEM ALL” in response to stories about Black Lives Matter protesters: https://t.co/oJKHE1woEg pic.twitter.com/6GVwHJWMRn
— The Root (@TheRoot) August 12, 2020
Domain name > real name
A domain name may be the most useful type of pseudonym.
It pulls up your site as the first hit when punched into a browser; indeed, it bypasses search altogether.
It’s also globally unique, programmable, persistent, and cross-culturally understood.
— balajis.com (@balajis) August 11, 2020
Try using pseudonym!
Which of the following terms is NOT a synonym of pseudonym?
A. alias
B. anonym
C. antonym
D. pen name