pen name

noun

: an author's pseudonym

Examples of pen name in a Sentence

Samuel L. Clemens is better known by his pen name “Mark Twain.”

Recent Examples on the Web

With the exception of The Ginger Man, all other titles were formulaic pornography by authors hiding behind pen names. — Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2026

Shangguanluan, a Chinese writer and activist who is known professionally by her pen name, moved to Taiwan in 2021 with her Taiwanese husband. — ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026

An economy that stretches to Haiti For Jean-Marie Denis, the Haitian writer and Little Haiti cultural activist better known by his pen name, Jan Mapou, the withdrawal of Haitians from public life evokes something from Haiti’s past. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 8 Aug. 2026

Writers who used to hide their masculinist impulses behind a pen name now write and say outrageous things under their real name. — Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 14 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1864, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pen name

• acclaim
• aflame
• airframe
• ballgame
• became
• declaim
• defame
• disclaim
• doorframe
• exclaim
• inflame
• mainframe

Kids Definition

pen name

noun

: a false name used by an author