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Pseudonym has its origins in the Greek adjective pseudōnymos, which means “bearing a false name.” French speakers adopted the Greek word as the noun 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.
Examples of pseudonym in a Sentence
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
Recent Examples on the Web
In the inside part of the apartment building’s mailbox — accessible only to building management and mail carriers — law enforcement found notes indicating that mail should be delivered to Cynthia’s apartment for several of the pseudonyms used in the scheme, authorities said.
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Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 9 Feb. 2026
Skattebo’s side also includes popular Madden livestreamer Kylie Cox, who goes by the pseudonym Sketch online.
—Devon Henderson, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026
Mindel, who has made solo music under the pseudonyms GMS and Sade Sade since Yellow Swans’ split in 2009, received the diagnosis after a health crisis last fall, his partner Aja Bond writes on a GoFundMe page.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 6 Feb. 2026
Kierkegaard wrote under pseudonyms who disagreed with each other.
—Big Think, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pseudonym
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Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 9 Feb. 2026
Skattebo’s side also includes popular Madden livestreamer Kylie Cox, who goes by the pseudonym Sketch online.
—Devon Henderson, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026
Mindel, who has made solo music under the pseudonyms GMS and Sade Sade since Yellow Swans’ split in 2009, received the diagnosis after a health crisis last fall, his partner Aja Bond writes on a GoFundMe page.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 6 Feb. 2026
Kierkegaard wrote under pseudonyms who disagreed with each other.
—Big Think, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pseudonym
Cite this Entry
“Pseudonym.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pseudonym. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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