1
as in nickname
a descriptive or familiar name given instead of or in addition to the one belonging to an individual
richly deserved the cognomen of "Butterfingers"
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2
as in moniker
a word or combination of words by which a person or thing is regularly known
"Christopher Columbus" is the Latinized cognomen of the navigator who was known to his Spanish crewmates as Cristóbal Colón
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Recent Examples of cognomen
Part of the Tuscia — cognomen of lush forested Viterbo, crossed by the ancient Roman Francigena road and land of the Etruscans before that — Gradoli is also volcanic.
—
Susan H. Gordon, Forbes, 3 Sep. 2021
The cognomen, or surname, of the Oba is Ekpen-owa, or home leopard.
—NOLA.com, 1 Feb. 2021
Moore submitted dozens of wonderful, wondrous cognomens, including Mongoose Civique, Regina-rex, Aeroterre, Dearborn Diamanté and the deathless Utopian Turtletop.
—Dan Neil, WSJ, 20 Mar. 2020
Denmark, Iceland, Hungary and Saudi Arabia also enforce specific naming conventions where common American cognomens might not make the cut.
—Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, 26 Sep. 2017
Susan H. Gordon, Forbes, 3 Sep. 2021
The cognomen, or surname, of the Oba is Ekpen-owa, or home leopard.
—NOLA.com, 1 Feb. 2021
Moore submitted dozens of wonderful, wondrous cognomens, including Mongoose Civique, Regina-rex, Aeroterre, Dearborn Diamanté and the deathless Utopian Turtletop.
—Dan Neil, WSJ, 20 Mar. 2020
Denmark, Iceland, Hungary and Saudi Arabia also enforce specific naming conventions where common American cognomens might not make the cut.
—Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, 26 Sep. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cognomen
Noun
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Forever chemicals are the nickname of a group of chemicals called PFAS that have been used in a wide variety of everyday products, including those that are nonstick or waterproof.—
Rachel Frazin,
The Hill,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Chick is a family nickname for Chiles after the character Chicken Little.—
Nasha Smith,
PEOPLE,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
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No word as to when the new moniker would go into effect.—
Amaris Encinas,
USA Today,
15 Oct. 2025
-
The common names of many of the poisonous Amanita mushrooms include foreboding monikers like death cap mushroom and destroying angel.—
Matt Kasson,
Popular Science,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Use chapter titles or epithets to set up what’s coming.—
JD Barker,
Rolling Stone,
25 Sep. 2025
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On his next broadcast, Maher convened guests like Ice Cube and Michael Eric Dyson to call him to task for using the epithet and to explore the issues about its us.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The royal agreed to the interview in order to clear his name and explain his relationship with Epstein.—
Ashley Hume , Ashley Papa,
FOXNews.com,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Kobo originally launched the apparel brand Torn by Ronny Kobo in 2009, with a relaunch in 2017 to the now-eponymous label’s name.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Because that was his surname, and every spouse takes the husband's surname.—
Simon Perry,
PEOPLE,
18 Oct. 2025
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While his company doesn’t make use of his surname, his brother has a business that does, which has led customers to make jokes.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The title theme’s steadily ascending line, mirroring the claustrophobic tension within the sub, became a signature motif.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Oct. 2025
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Those ports can be used to play additional titles and, with the right adapter, to connect original Intellivision controllers.—
Alex Harrington,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
No last-minute deal being reached, the spending law funding the U.S. government lapsed at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1 and the federal government, in the common nomenclature, is shutting down.—
Todd Spangler,
Freep.com,
30 Sep. 2025
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Despite its Air Jordan nomenclature, the mule does not feature Air technology.—
Riley Jones,
Footwear News,
21 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cognomen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cognomen. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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