Pseudonym has its origins in the Greek adjective pseudōnymos, which means “bearing a false name.” French speakers adopted the Greek word as the noun pseudonyme, and English speakers later modified the French word into pseudonym. Many celebrated authors have used pseudonyms. Samuel Clemens wrote under the pseudonym “Mark Twain,” Charles Lutwidge Dodgson assumed the pseudonym “Lewis Carroll,” and Mary Ann Evans used “George Eliot” as her pseudonym.
Mark Twain is the pseudonym of the American writer Samuel L. Clemens.
the most notorious serial killer of the 19th century remains known only by the pseudonym of Jack the Ripper
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His name and the names of other people quoted in this article are pseudonyms chosen to protect their privacy.—Helena Addison, The Conversation, 3 Mar. 2026 The Milwaukee native also teaches courses at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, in addition to producing beats under the artist pseudonym 99TheProducer.—Anya Sesay, jsonline.com, 3 Mar. 2026 Caroline, who looks more like her father than her mother, has written two books about her experience under the pseudonym Caroline Darian.—Gaby Wood, Vogue, 21 Feb. 2026 In the inside part of the apartment building’s mailbox — accessible only to building management and mail carriers — law enforcement found notes indicating that mail should be delivered to Cynthia’s apartment for several of the pseudonyms used in the scheme, authorities said.—Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 9 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pseudonym
Word History
Etymology
French pseudonyme, from Greek pseudōnymos bearing a false name, from pseud- + onyma name — more at name