username

noun

us·​er·​name ˈyü-zər-ˌnām 

variants or less commonly user name

plural usernames also user names

: a sequence of characters that identifies a user (such as on a computer system, website, or social media platform)

Never reuse a username and password combination. While doing so is convenient, if that combination is ever stolen from one service you use … it will expose every service you have that uses it.

—Rachel Cericola

These e-mail addresses generally look like this: "[e-mail]".

—Walter S. Mossberg

called also user ID

Examples of username in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

His online username was silent hill 333. —E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026

Footwork often uses samples for comedic effect, and with username and Marsh crane this element is center stage. —Rae-Aila Crumble, Pitchfork, 26 Jan. 2026

Attackers mimic sign-in screens for email, VPNs and cloud services to steal usernames and passwords. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 21 Jan. 2026

Many users accepted outdated usernames or awkward handles simply to avoid account migration. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 25 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1971, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for username

• aspartame
• counterclaim
• overcame
• underframe
• acclaim
• aflame
• airframe
• ballgame
• became
• declaim
• defame
• disclaim

Kids Definition

username

noun

: a sequence of characters that identifies a user when logging onto a computer or website

called also user ID