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.
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
The Times received immediate backlash for agreeing to credit Lasker only by his pseudonym, and for not making clear the full nature of his work.—Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 9 July 2025 The invitations were so scarce that at least one Tesla influencer, a person named Omar who goes by the pseudonym Whole Mars Catalog, offered to share rides for $10.—David Ingram, NBC news, 5 July 2025 The pseudonym wasn’t due to the writer’s shyness, either.—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 3 July 2025 Cuts bad for workers, 'and science ... and the public'
As for individual federal employees, some have taken to the r/cincinnati page of Reddit, under pseudonyms, to speak out.—Patricia Gallagher Newberry, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025 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
Share