plural nicknames
: a name (such as "Moose" or "Lady Bird") that is different from your real name but is what your family, friends, etc., call you when they are talking to you or about you
His mother gave him the nickname "Winky" when he was a baby.
Earvin "Magic" Johnson got his nickname from the way he handled a basketball.
nicknames; nicknamed; nicknaming
: to give (someone) a name that is not that person's real name : to give a nickname to (someone)
She nicknamed him "Winky."
Cite this Entry
“Nickname.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/nickname. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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