nickname

1 of 2

noun

nick·​name ˈnik-ˌnām How to pronounce nickname (audio)
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)

nickname

2 of 2

verb

nicknamed; nicknaming; nicknames

transitive verb

1
2
: to give a nickname to
nicknamer noun

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History of Nickname

It might look like nickname is a compound noun formed by adding nick and name together, but the actual history of this word is a bit more complicated. It was formed by metanalysis, or the changing of the division of words based upon how they sound together. In this case, the Middle English word eke, meaning “also” or “in addition,” was joined with name to form ekename—literally, “also-name,” used for a secondary or unofficial name in the late Middle Ages. Over time, an ekename became a nickname presumably because eke had become less familiar as a word. Needless to say, nick in this case doesn’t mean “also” or anything else, it just represents a comfortable and familiar alternative to the word’s original spelling.

Examples of nickname in a Sentence

Noun His mother gave him the nickname “Winky” when he was a baby. Earvin “Magic” Johnson got his nickname from the way he handled a basketball.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
As both a private developer and a state economic development official, Patrick LeSage jokingly gave himself a nickname: Front Page LeSage. Tom Daykin, Journal Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2024 The plutonium bomb acquired the nickname Fat Man; the uranium bomb was Little Boy. Kc Cole, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Mar. 2024 With heroic dedication and resolve, Bob (Kevin Smith) endures Jay's verbal abuse (nicknames like ''fatty,'' ''lunchbox,'' and ''tons of fun'') and selflessly/wordlessly dispenses advice with a meaningful nod. Ew Staff Updated, EW.com, 6 Mar. 2024 Some fans may make nicknames for their ships by combining the characters' names. Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 2 Mar. 2024 In February 2023, Chrissie and Daniel took their son, who goes by the nickname Z, for his annual check-in with his doctor for gender-affirming care. Hannah Murphy Winter, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2024 Ohio ranks second behind Virginia for the most amount of presidents born in a state, hence the nickname the Birthplace of Presidents. Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 1 Mar. 2024 At the Charleston Place, instructors Caroline Riley and Anne Ruder take inspiration from the city’s nickname for their own sobriquet: Holy Mahj. Kinsey Gidicl, Travel + Leisure, 2 Mar. 2024 Princess Diana's Siblings: Everything to Know About Her Brother and Sisters Also in the caption, Charles shared a tidbit about his childhood nickname. Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 2 Mar. 2024
Verb
Uchis followed up their posts by sharing a carousel of photos showing the celebrity pair with their son, nicknamed Baby Pooki, with photos of the Red Moon in Venus singer in the hospital after giving birth. Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 14 Mar. 2024 The show focused on James St. Patrick (played by Omari Hardwick), a drug dealer nicknamed Ghost whose only wish was to leave the world of crime behind and become a legitimate businessman. Damien Scott, Billboard, 13 Mar. 2024 The company is also planning to develop a larger hypersonic vehicle, dubbed Talon-Z, and a spaceplane nicknamed Black Ice that would carry payloads — and possibly passengers — to Earth orbit. Passant Rabie / Gizmodo, Quartz, 11 Mar. 2024 Ann Arbor’s Michigan Stadium, nicknamed The Big House, is the largest athletic venue in the country and the third largest in the world, hosting many football, soccer, and hockey games. Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2024 Jennifer Crumbley testified that her son was messing around and had an ongoing joke with his dad that the house was haunted, and that ghosts nicknamed Veronica and Boris lived there. Gina Kaufman, Detroit Free Press, 7 Mar. 2024 Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C lander, nicknamed Odysseus, launched into space on Feb. 15 atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Denise Chow, NBC News, 22 Feb. 2024 Catherine, nicknamed Kate or Katey, was the author’s youngest surviving daughter and his favorite, according to her siblings. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 1 Mar. 2024 After graduating from Providence College in 1968, Casolaro married former Miss Virginia Terrill Pace, welcomed a son (named John Daniel Casolaro III, but nicknamed Trey) and embarked on a writing career. Lynsey Eidell, Peoplemag, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nickname.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1536, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nickname was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near nickname

Cite this Entry

“Nickname.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nickname. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

nickname

1 of 2 noun
nick·​name ˈnik-ˌnām How to pronounce nickname (audio)
1
: an often descriptive name (as "Shorty" or "Tex") given in addition to the one belonging to an individual
2
: a form of a proper name (as "Billy" for "William") used by family or friends

nickname

2 of 2 verb
: to give a nickname to
Etymology

Noun

Middle English nekename "an additional name," from the phrase an ekename (misunderstood as being a nekename), from eke "something added on" and name "name"

Word Origin
The Middle English word eke meant "something added on." An ekename was therefore an added name given to a person or place. Many people who heard the phrase "an ekename," however, thought they were hearing "a nekename." Because of that confusion over the course of many years, the word ekename became nekename. Later changes in spelling have given us the modern word nickname.

More from Merriam-Webster on nickname

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