pseudonym

[sood-n-im]

noun

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

   Synonyms: nom de plume, alias

pseudonym

/ ˈsjuːdəˌnɪm /

noun

1. a fictitious name adopted, esp by an author

Other Word Forms

• pseudonymity noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of pseudonym¹

First recorded in 1840–50; from Greek pseudṓnymon “false name”; pseud-, -onym

Word History and Origins

Origin of pseudonym¹

C19: via French from Greek pseudōnumon

Example Sentences

Under this pseudonym, Picasshoe first gained recognition for creating art that explored the complexities of his dueling identities of being an LGBTQ+ artist while surrounded by traditional Latino ideals.

From Los Angeles Times

"There were bodies everywhere outside our building," she told the BBC in a phone interview, using a pseudonym out of fear for her safety.

From BBC

She denied the couple were "hiding behind pseudonyms" and said their friends use "Sal and Tim interchangeably with Ray and Moth".

From BBC

Readers plugged into the world of fan fiction may recognize the author’s name, which is a pseudonym.

From Los Angeles Times

"The game isn't trying to say that all women are gold diggers... I don't find it targeting either gender," says 31-year-old Zhuang Mengsheng, who used a pseudonym to speak to the BBC.

From BBC

Related Words

• alias 
• stage name www.thesaurus.com

When To Use

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.