nickname

¹nick·name

noun \ˈnik-ˌnām\

Definition of NICKNAME

1

: a usually descriptive name given instead of or in addition to the one belonging to a person, place, or thing

2

: a familiar form of a proper name (as of a person or a city)

Examples of NICKNAME

1. His mother gave him the nickname “Winky” when he was a baby.
2. Earvin “Magic” Johnson got his nickname from the way he handled a basketball.

Origin of NICKNAME

Middle English nekename additional name, alteration (resulting from misdivision of an ekename) of ekename, from eke eke, also + name name

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to NICKNAME

Synonyms

alias, byname, cognomen, epithet, handle, moniker (also monicker), sobriquet (also soubriquet), surname

Related Words

appellation, denomination, denotation, designation, label, tag, title; anonym, nom de guerre, nom de plume, pen name, pseudonym

Rhymes with NICKNAME

A-frame, acclaim, aflame, airframe, ball game, big game, big-name, board game, brand name, byname, code name, cross-claim, declaim, defame, disclaim, endgame, enframe, exclaim, first name, forename, freeze-frame, head game, inflame, last name, mainframe, mind game, misname, no-name, pen name, place-name, prename, proclaim, quitclaim, reclaim, selfsame, shell game, skin game, space frame, surname, time frame, trade name, war game

²nickname

transitive verb

Definition of NICKNAME

1

: misname, miscall

2

: to give a nickname to

— nick·nam·er noun

First Known Use of NICKNAME

1536