alias

adverb ali·as \ ˈā-lē-əs , ˈāl-yəs \

|Updated on: 12 Jun 2018

Definition of alias

: otherwise called : otherwise known as —used to indicate an additional name that a person (such as a criminal) sometimes uses

John Smith alias Richard Jones was identified as the suspect.

See alias defined for English-language learners

See alias defined for kids

Origin and Etymology of alias

Latin, otherwise, from alius other — more at else

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

alias

noun

Definition of alias

: an assumed or additional name that a person (such as a criminal) sometimes uses

a fugitive using several aliases

He checked into the hotel using an alias.

John Smith, who goes by the alias Richard Jones

See alias defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of alias from the Web

According to the Dallas Morning News, high school coaches voted Gilstrap-Portley, who played under the alias of Rashun Richardson, the District 11-5A offensive player of the year.

— fernando alfonso iii, Houston Chronicle, "Dallas-area man arrested after allegedly posing as high school freshmen for months," 16 May 2018
Under that alias of Evans, Rasmussen and his then-girlfriend, Denise Beaudin, along with Beaudin’s six-year-old daughter left Manchester in November 1981.

— john r. ellement, BostonGlobe.com, "Authorities search in wooded area in Manchester, N.H. for woman who vanished in 1980," 15 May 2018
The book opens in 1957 with Gunther, the onetime commissar of Berlin's Murder Squad, living under an alias in Munich as a morgue attendant.

— lloyd sachs, chicagotribune.com, "Crime fiction reviews: Latest from Philip Kerr, Jo Nesbo and Michael Kardos," 17 Apr. 2018
Memorably, she was nominated as a songwriter under the secret alias of Washpoppin.

— michael saponara, Billboard, "A Timeline of Every Major Accolade & Moment in Cardi B's Music Career," 28 Mar. 2018
According to the documents in the Reuters story, Kim Jong-Un travelled under the alias of Josef Pwag, who was born in Sao Paulo in 1983.

— Time, "Kim Jong-Un Traveled With a Fake Passport to Apply for Western Visas: Report," 27 Feb. 2018
Black Panther is the first standalone film to focus on the titular character, the superhero alias of King T’Challa of the fictional country Wakanda, portrayed by actor Chadwick Boseman.

— tom huddleston jr., Fortune, "'Black Panther' Set a Marvel Record With Advance Ticket Sales," 10 Jan. 2018
Cops across the country are making music videos with the dashboard cameras in their patrol cars and posting them online in #PoliceCarKaraoke, which also uses the alias Cop Car Karaoke.

— lisa gutierrez, kansascity, "Kansas cop busts out 'Love Ballad' for #PoliceCarKaraoke and finds fans nationwide | The Kansas City Star," 25 May 2018
Of all the aliases and group names Kevin Saunderson has deployed through his career, none looms larger than the one that helped launch it all.

— brian mccollum, Detroit Free Press, "Kevin Saunderson's Inner City rehearses for anniversary set," 24 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'alias.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of alias

see ¹alias

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1605

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

alias Synonyms

Synonyms

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

anonym, nom de guerre, nom de plume, pen name, pseudonym;

ALIAS Defined for Kids

alias

adverb \ ˈā-lē-əs \

Definition of alias for Students

: otherwise known as

Samuel Clemens, alias Mark Twain wrote many stories about life on the Mississippi.

alias

noun

Definition of alias for Students

: a false name

The criminal used several aliases.

Law Dictionary

alias

adverb \ ˈā-lē-əs, ˈāl-yəs \

legal Definition of alias

: otherwise called : also known as

John Thomas Nolan, alias Legs Diamond

Origin and Etymology of alias

Latin, otherwise, from alius other

alias

noun

legal Definition of alias

: an assumed or additional name

alias

adjective

legal Definition of alias

: issued after the original instrument has not produced any action

an alias tax warrant

an alias summons

— compare pluries

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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for alias Spanish Central: Translation of alias Nglish: Translation of alias for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of alias for Arabic speakers

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alias

Definition of alias

Origin and Etymology of alias

alias

Definition of alias

Recent Examples of alias from the Web

Origin and Etymology of alias

alias Synonyms

Synonyms

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ALIAS Defined for Kids

alias

Definition of alias for Students

alias

Definition of alias for Students

Law Dictionary

alias

legal Definition of alias

Origin and Etymology of alias

alias

legal Definition of alias

alias

legal Definition of alias

Learn More about alias

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