anonymous

adjective

anon·​y·​mous ə-ˈnä-nə-məs 

1

: of unknown authorship or origin

an anonymous tip

2

: not named or identified

an anonymous author

They wish to remain anonymous.

3

: lacking individuality, distinction, or recognizability

the anonymous faces in the crowd

… the gray anonymous streets …

—William Styron

anonymousness noun

Synonyms

• one
• unnamed

Examples of anonymous in a Sentence

The donor wishes to remain anonymous.

An anonymous buyer purchased the painting.

The college received an anonymous gift.

He made an anonymous phone call to the police.

The reporter got an anonymous tip.

His was just another anonymous face in the crowd.

Recent Examples on the Web

Anyone with information is asked to contact the anonymous tip line at (502) 574-LMPD (5673) or use the online crime tip portal. —Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 25 Sep. 2025

The app is anonymous and does not track logins. —Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025

Five months later, deputies responded after an anonymous caller complained about a loud party with underage drinking at the same Anderson Township home. —Erin Glynn, Cincinnati Enquirer, 25 Sep. 2025

For the first time in 125 years, Michelin has granted cameras behind-the-scenes access to its year-long process — including rare on-the-record interviews with its famously anonymous inspectors. —Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin anōnymos, anōnymus "lacking a name" (borrowed from Greek anṓnymos "lacking a name, unnamed, not well-known or remembered," from an- an- + -ōnymos, derivative in adjectival compounds of ónoma, Doric and Aeolic dialects ónyma "name") + -ous — more at name entry 1

First Known Use

1625, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for anonymous

• autonomous
• economise
• eponymous
• synonymous

Kids Definition

anonymous

adjective

anon·​y·​mous ə-ˈnän-ə-məs 

1

: not named or identified

the donor remained anonymous

2

: made or done by someone unknown

anonymous gifts

an anonymous poem

anonymously adverb

anonymousness noun

Etymology

from Latin anonymus "anonymous," from Greek anonymos (same meaning), from an-, a- "not, without" and onyma, onoma "name" — related to synonymous