anonymity

noun

an·​o·​nym·​i·​ty ˌa-nə-ˈni-mə-tē How to pronounce anonymity (audio)
plural anonymities
1
: the quality or state of being anonymous
enjoyed the anonymity of life in a large city
2
: one that is anonymous
a crowd of faceless anonymities

Examples of anonymity in a Sentence

They are trying to protect their child's anonymity. She enjoyed the anonymity of life in a large city.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The person requested anonymity because the deal has not been finalized. Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2025 The talks, which took place last month, focused mainly on the release of American hostages and a potential end of the war without Hamas in power in Gaza, according to a Hamas official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity. arkansasonline.com, 6 Mar. 2025 This relative anonymity can be a significant tailwind in a trade war scenario. Ivan Illan, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025 The big picture: More than 750 NPS employees had been fired around the country as of Tuesday, according to a spreadsheet shared with Axios by a U.S. park ranger who requested anonymity to protect their job and employment prospects. Kate Murphy, Axios, 5 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for anonymity

Word History

Etymology

anonym(ous) + -ity

First Known Use

1820, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of anonymity was in 1820

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Cite this Entry

“Anonymity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anonymity. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

anonymity

noun
an·​o·​nym·​i·​ty ˌan-ə-ˈnim-ət-ē How to pronounce anonymity (audio)
plural anonymities
: the quality or state of being anonymous

More from Merriam-Webster on anonymity

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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