autonym Definition
a person's real name, especially one that is kept secret or not generally known.
Using autonym: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "autonym" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The author used an autonym for the publication of their controversial book.
Example
The artist's autonym was revealed after their death.
Example
The spy operated under several different autonyms throughout their career.
autonym Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for autonym
- real name
- true name
- given name
Phrases with autonym
a pseudonym is a fictitious name used by an author to conceal their identity, while an autonym is a person's real name, especially one that is kept secret or not generally known
Example
The author used a pseudonym for their first novel, but later published under their autonym.
Example
Deutsch is the autonym of the German language.
Example
The autonym for the plant species Rosa is Rosa.
Origins of autonym
from Greek 'autonumos', meaning 'having a name of one's own'
Summary: autonym in Brief
An 'autonym' [ˈɔːtənɪm] is a person's real name, especially one that is kept secret or not generally known. It differs from a pseudonym, which is a fictitious name used by an author to conceal their identity. 'Autonym' also has specific meanings in linguistics and botany, referring to the name of a language in the language itself and the scientific name of a plant species that is the same as the genus name, respectively.
