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
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One of the mogul’s recent ex-girlfriends, a woman who testified under the pseudonym Jane, also mentioned Paul in her testimony.—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 20 June 2025 Rooms were allegedly booked under assistants' names or Diddy's pseudonym, Frank Black, and Paul would bring in lights, baby oil, Astroglide, alcohol and small toiletries.—Tracy Wright , Maria Paronich, FOXNews.com, 20 June 2025 Something of us must remain…You’ll find a Latin or Arabic pseudonym.—Mark Polizzoti
june 16, Literary Hub, 16 June 2025 Mia says Sean 'Diddy' Combs raped and abused her
Before Jane took the stand, jurors heard three days of testimony from a woman using the pseudonym Mia, who was Combs’ assistant from 2009 to 2017.—Gina Barton, USA Today, 11 June 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
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