Definition of nickname
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)
People Are Reading
Examples of nickname in a Sentence
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.
Origin and Etymology of nickname
Middle English nekename additional name, alteration (resulting from misdivision of an ekename) of ekename, from eke eke, also + name name
First Known Use: 15th century
nickname
Definition of nickname
nicknamer
noun1536
First Known Use of nickname
1536
NICKNAME Defined for English Language Learners
nickname
playDefinition of nickname for English Language Learners
-
: a name (such as “Moose” or “Lady Bird”) that is different from your real name but is what your family, friends, etc., call you when they are talking to you or about you
nickname
Definition of nickname for English Language Learners
-
: to give (someone) a name that is not that person's real name : to give a nickname to (someone)
NICKNAME Defined for Kids
Definition of nickname for Students
1 : a usually descriptive name used in addition to a person's given name My brother had the nickname “Nosy.”
2 : a familiar form of a proper name “Bill” and “Willie” are nicknames for “William.”
History for nickname
In the Middle Ages there was an English word ekename that meant “an extra name.” It was made of a word eke that meant “extra part” added to the word name. It started with a vowel, so an was used with this word instead of a. When an ekename was said fast, it sounded a bit like a nekename. As a result, some people thought the word started with n and began to pronounce it nekename. They did not know they were taking n away from an, adding it to ekename, and so making a new word. From this new word came the word nickname that we use now.
Definition of nickname for Students
nicknamed
;nicknaming
: to give a usually descriptive name to that is additional to a given name
Learn More about nickname
-
See words that rhyme with nickname Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for nickname Spanish Central: Translation of nickname Nglish: Translation of nickname for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of nickname for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up nickname? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!