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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Several plaintiffs who initially filed under Jane and John Doe pseudonyms were ordered by judges to reveal their identities, prompting some to withdraw their cases altogether.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
21 Sep. 2026 Crooks adopted the Dole pseudonym after his father's checking account had been hacked and fraudulent gambling charges appeared, Matthew Crooks told investigators.—
Michael Ruiz , Kelley Kramer,
FOXNews.com,
15 Sep. 2026 His newest novel, the crime story White Smoke, written under the pseudonym Nick Brucker, sold to A24 UK at auction with Benedict Cumberbatch attached to star.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Sep. 2026 His newest novel, White Smoke (written under the pseudonym Nick Brucker), sold to A24 UK at auction with Benedict Cumberbatch attached to star.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
9 Sep. 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