alias

adverb

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ali·as | \ ˈā-lē-əs

, ˈāl-yəs \

Definition of alias

(Entry 1 of 2)

: 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.

alias

noun

Definition of alias (Entry 2 of 2)

: 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

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about alias

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Examples of alias in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Two long years ago, Diplo and Mark Ronson released a trinity of shimmery pop-leaning house songs under their Silk City alias. — Katie Bain, Billboard, "Diplo & Mark Ronson Tease the Return of Silk City: 'Heard You Needed to Dance'," 14 Jan. 2021 Florida Man – the alias given to the many males involved in whacky news stories from the Sunshine State over the years – maintained his status as an internet favorite with another year of eye-popping appearances in news headlines. — Grace Pateras, USA TODAY, "Florida Man didn't let 2020 slow him down. Here's everything he did this year.," 10 Dec. 2020 What's even more staggering: Prince Harry reportedly named his secret Instagram account after his favorite DJ, Deadmau5, as well as his Facebook alias, Spike Wells. — Emily Dixon, Marie Claire, "Prince Harry Had a Secret Instagram Account With a Hilarious Handle," 27 July 2020 Under his Love Regenerator alias, the mainstage mainstay went underground, making the same kind of squelchy four-to-the-floor scorchers that inspired him to make dance music in the first place. — Billboard Staff, Billboard, "The 100 Best Songs of 2020: Staff List," 8 Dec. 2020 In 1979, Lander and McKean released an album as Lenny and the Squigtones featuring Christopher Guest in guitar, who was credited as Nigel Tufnel – an alias that Guest later reused in the fictional band Spinal Tap. — Janet W. Lee, chicagotribune.com, "David Lander, Squiggy in ‘Laverne and Shirley,’ dies at 73," 5 Dec. 2020 Mark William Calaway—known by his wrestling alias as The Undertaker—bid his final farewell Sunday night, officially retiring after 30 years with World Wrestling Entertainment. — Shacamree Gowdy, Chron, "Houston's own The Undertaker bids final farewell to WWE after 30-year career," 23 Nov. 2020 The Guardian and the BBC used photos and property records to show the links between Nazzaro and the Spear alias. — NBC News, "Secret tapes show neo-Nazi group The Base recruiting former members of the military," 15 Oct. 2020 Alec Hardy, 34, a software engineer in Budapest who asked to be identified by his alias to avoid any professional repercussions, used to work two day jobs and earned $1,500 a month in his senior management positions. — Hannah Seligson, New York Times, "The New Unsexy Sexy Marketplace," 26 Sep. 2020

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.

History and Etymology for alias

Adverb

Middle English, borrowed from Medieval Latin aliās (short for aliās dictus "at other times called"), going back to Latin, "at other times, in other cases, otherwise," from alius "other" + -ās, adverbial suffix (perhaps accusative plural ending, with noun vicēs "turns, times" understood) — more at else

Noun

noun derivative of alias entry 1

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