username

noun

us·​er·​name ˈyü-zər-ˌnām How to pronounce username (audio)
variants or less commonly user name
plural usernames also user names
: a sequence of characters that identifies a user (such as on a computer system, website, or social media platform)
Never reuse a username and password combination. While doing so is convenient, if that combination is ever stolen from one service you use … it will expose every service you have that uses it.Rachel Cericola
These e-mail addresses generally look like this: "username@location.xxx".Walter S. Mossberg

called also user ID

Examples of username in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
My username is also randomly generated, so there’s no association with any of my PII. Evan Zimmer, CNBC, 9 Dec. 2025 The heartwarming clip shared in November under the username @laurenandcody shows the golden retriever, Charlie, jumping around, wagging his tail, and burying his head in the snow, after his owner took him out to enjoy the first snowfall of the year. Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2025 Signup requires only a ZIP+4 code, a username, and payment. Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 4 Dec. 2025 Obviously, don’t recycle usernames across platforms. Jp Aumasson, Wired News, 29 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for username

Word History

First Known Use

1971, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of username was in 1971

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Username.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/username. Accessed 12 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

username

noun
: a sequence of characters that identifies a user when logging onto a computer or website

called also user ID

More from Merriam-Webster on username

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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