Definition of PSEUDONYM

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Pseudonym, has its origins in the Greek word pseudōnymos, which means "bearing a false name." Greek speakers formed their word by combining pseud-, meaning "false," and onyma, meaning "name." French speakers adopted the Greek word as 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.

Examples of pseudonym in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Mary Anne Evans, writing under the pseudonym George Eliot, is perhaps unique in having dedicated such a sequence to her brother, Isaac Evans. — The New York Review of Books, "Tim Parks," 9 May 2019 The Satanic Temple uses religious liberty laws to critique the religious right The Satanic Temple has been blending trolling and activism since it was founded in 2012 by two friends, Malcolm Jerry and Lucien Greaves (both pseudonyms). — Tara Isabella Burton, Vox, "The Satanic Temple is divided over its leader’s decision to hire Alex Jones’s lawyer," 9 Aug. 2018 Most recently, Hulu and Awesomeness' binge-worthy YA series Light as a Feather started as the Wattpad story Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board by Alexandra Fletcher under the pseudonym Zoe Aarsen, and is returning for a second season this summer. — Elena Nicolaou, refinery29.com, "How To Write A Book On Your Phone & Get 1 Billion Readers & A Movie Deal," 15 June 2019 Caesar, a pseudonym for the Syrian defector, testified before Congress in July 2014. — Courtney Mcbride, WSJ, "Time Runs Short for Congress to Pass Syrian Legislation," 4 Dec. 2018 Jandaris is the northern Syrian town near where Mr. Sayyed, an activist who uses a pseudonym for his own protection, lives in a makeshift refugee camp with thousands of others displaced by Syria’s seven-year civil war. — Hwaida Saad, New York Times, "Memories Lost and Futures on Hold: A Look Inside a Camp for Syria’s Displaced," 11 July 2018 She’s since published eight romance novels, under the pseudonym Selena Montgomery. — Rebecca Nelson, Cosmopolitan, "The U.S. Has Never Had a Black Woman as Governor. Stacey Abrams Plans to Change That.," 27 Nov. 2017 However, it was eventually revealed that the enigmatic twins were actually British artists James Golding and Mike Snelle under a unique pseudonym. — Amy Mackelden, Harper's BAZAAR, "Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Gave Idris Elba an Incredible Wedding Gift," 28 Apr. 2019 The Wall Street Journal has published pieces written anonymously and under pseudonyms on its op-ed pages in the past. — Lukas I. Alpert, WSJ, "Publishing Anonymous Column Is Rare, Editors Say," 6 Sep. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pseudonym.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.