anonym

An anonym is a false or fictitious name, especially one used by a person so they can remain anonymous.

The word anonym is rarely used. A much more common synonym of anonym is pseudonym. (That’s a lot of –nyms—more about that in the next section.)

Anonyms can be used for a number of reasons. In legal proceedings, the anonyms John Doe, Jane Doe, Richard Roe, and Jane Roe are used in cases when a person’s name is unknown or is being kept anonymous. They are also sometimes used in medicine for a patient whose name is not known.

There are many reasons an author may choose to use an anonym instead of their own name, such as to avoid controversy or to create a persona. When an author uses an anonym, it is more often called a pen name, a nom de plume, or a pseudonym.

The word anonym can also refer to an anonymous person or an anonymous publication.

Example: A lot of people use anonyms when posting controversial opinions online.

The first records of the word anonym come from the early 1800s. The prefix an- means “without,” and -onym means “name” in Greek (it can also mean “word,” and is used in words like synonym and acronym). The adjective anonymous is recorded much earlier and is much more commonly used than anonym. The noun anonymity (meaning “the state of being anonymous”) is also more commonly used, but the first records of its use come from the around the same time as anonym.

The pseudo in pseudonym means “false” or “unreal,” and anonyms are also, by definition, false—they’re fictitious, made-up names that take the place of someone’s real name. The word anonym typically implies that such a name is being used so that the user can remain totally anonymous—unidentifiable. A pseudonym can be used for the same purpose, but the word pseudonym is also often used in cases in which people want to create a separation between themselves and their work without necessarily remaining completely anonymous.

What are some synonyms for anonym?

• pseudonym
• alias

What are some words that share a root or word element with anonym? 

• anonymous
• anonymity
• synonym
• antonym
• acronym

What are some words that often get used in discussing anonym?

• name
• false
• fake
• fictitious
• identity
• unknown
• John Doe
• Jane Doe
• pen name
• nom de plume
• stage name

Anonyms can be used for all kinds of reasons, but the word itself isn’t very common. It’s much more common to use the word pseudonym.

@rinielenika You could always go under an anonym if you make NSFW art, if you're concerned about your professional work being linked to it.

— Beck Keep (@BeckKeep) October 12, 2015

Hi. You can use an anonym! :) Just don't use your seatmate's name, haha!

— Lukan Freedom Wall (@SLCMFreedomWall) June 17, 2019

That's definitely possible and everyone's responsibility. I'd guess it's probably harder to empathize with an anonym when not face to face.

— The Well-Red Mage (still) (@theWellRedMage) October 12, 2017

Which of the following terms is NOT a synonym of anonym? 

A. pseudonym
B. alias
C. antonym
D. false name