as in nickname
a descriptive or familiar name given instead of or in addition to the one belonging to an individual
Thomas Edward Lawrence is better known to most people by his byname, Lawrence of Arabia
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Recent Examples of byname
Robert the Wise was a good teacher — and, as his byname suggests, a good role model.
—
Anne Thériault, Longreads, 3 July 2018
Anne Thériault, Longreads, 3 July 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for byname
Noun
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There’s a particular collection that has several nicknames, like the winter hexagon, winter circle, winter oval and more.—
Mike Lynch,
Twin Cities,
8 Mar. 2026
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According to Enquirer archives, it was opened in 1926 by Donald and Genevieve Karcher (Donald's nickname was Zip, according to Burke).—
Keith Pandolfi,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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This would mean that married women who have changed their surname would have to show citizenship documents that match their current legal name.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
12 Mar. 2026
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Correction, March 6 The original version of this article misstated the president of the National Iranian American Council's surname.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The epithet could be heard when the BBC broadcast the ceremony about two hours after the live event.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
23 Feb. 2026
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There is no stronger epithet in Albany than the charge of being weak.—
Paul Francis,
New York Daily News,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Fans of the thunder-and-lighting combination — or the former Sonic and Knuckles moniker for Detroit Lions fans — will see the 5-foot-9, 195-pound Brown as a bolt out of the backfield who excels in catching the ball.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
8 Mar. 2026
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According to various online surveys, parents and grandparents often disagree over the perfect moniker for a new baby.—
Sherri Gordon,
Parents,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Byname.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/byname. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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