nickname

English

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nickname

Wikipedia

Etymology

From Middle English nekename, alteration (due to a rebracketing of an ekename as a nekename) of earlier ekename (“nickname”), from eke (“additional”) + name. Compare Old Norse aukanafn, auknafn, auknefni, Faroese eyknevni, Danish øgenavn, Swedish öknamn, and German Low German Ökelname.

For other similar cases of incorrect division, see also apron, daffodil, newt, orange, umpire.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈnɪkneɪm/

• Audio (Southern England)

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Noun

nickname (plural nicknames)

1. A familiar, invented name for a person or thing used instead of the actual name of the person or thing, often based on some noteworthy characteristic.

   "The Big Apple" is a common nickname for New York City.

2. A familiar, shortened or diminutive name for a person or thing.

   My name is Jonathan, but I go by my nickname, Johnny.

Usage notes

Nicknames are often given in quotation marks between the first and last names. For example: Sammy "The Bull" Gravano.

Synonyms

• (familiar invented given name): byname, handle, moniker, nick; sobriquet (literary); cognomen (historical, literary, or humorous; uncommon)

Hyponyms

• (familiar invented given name): hypocoristic, pet name (affectionate nicknames); see epithet (invented names used alongside the actual name)

Descendants

• → German: Nickname
• → Japanese: ニックネーム (nikkunēmu)

Translations

Verb

nickname (third-person singular simple present nicknames, present participle nicknaming, simple past and past participle nicknamed)

1. (transitive) To give a nickname to (a person or thing).

   Gerald, nicknamed "Jerry", was usually a very cheerful person.

Translations

References