Did you know?
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.
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
Before the end of the decade, Duckworth was also publishing Penelope Fitzgerald, Caroline Blackwood, and Anna Haycraft herself, who wrote under the pseudonym Alice Thomas Ellis.
—
Christopher Tayler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
One of Hardy's victims, who went only by the pseudonym Melanie, told The Guardian that in school, Hardy was a target for bullies and seemed lonely.
—Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 26 Jan. 2026
The plaintiffs, who used pseudonyms, asked the court for permission to file on behalf of all children who had lost gender-affirming care at the hospital’s TRUE Center for Gender Diversity, known as a class action.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 21 Jan. 2026
The homeless man, known by the pseudonym John, had been living in the basement of Brown’s Barus and Holley engineering building.
—Preston Mizell, FOXNews.com, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pseudonym
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.
Christopher Tayler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
One of Hardy's victims, who went only by the pseudonym Melanie, told The Guardian that in school, Hardy was a target for bullies and seemed lonely.
—Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 26 Jan. 2026
The plaintiffs, who used pseudonyms, asked the court for permission to file on behalf of all children who had lost gender-affirming care at the hospital’s TRUE Center for Gender Diversity, known as a class action.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 21 Jan. 2026
The homeless man, known by the pseudonym John, had been living in the basement of Brown’s Barus and Holley engineering building.
—Preston Mizell, FOXNews.com, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pseudonym
Cite this Entry
“Pseudonym.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pseudonym. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
