Pseudonym, has its origins in the Greek word pseudōnymos, which means "bearing a false name." Greek speakers formed their word by combining pseud-, meaning "false," and onyma, meaning "name." French speakers adopted the Greek word as 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.
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
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Soderbergh—doing his own cinematography, as often, under the pseudonym Peter Andrews—crafts a clever style to develop the identification of the camera’s gaze with that of the haunting spirit.—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 17 Jan. 2025 The last installment followed Joe — under the pseudonym Professor Jonathan Moore — in a new, academic career abroad.—Liza Esquibias, People.com, 16 Jan. 2025 One woman, referred to as pseudonym Rachel, allegedly started a relationship with Palmer before Palmer introduced her to Gaiman.—Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY, 13 Jan. 2025 The author of the letter, Samuel Butler, submitted it under the pseudonym Cellarius, but later came to publicly embrace his position.—Ars Technica, 11 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for pseudonym
Word History
Etymology
French pseudonyme, from Greek pseudōnymos bearing a false name, from pseud- + onyma name — more at name
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