Definition

A name taken by a writer that belongs to someone else, often a historical figure.

Example

The author used an allonym to give his work a sense of authenticity.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of the term allonym?

Yeah, it's when a writer uses someone else's name, right?

Exactly! I just found out that some famous authors used allonyms for their works.

That’s really interesting! I wonder how many books are out there with hidden identities.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Allonym is formed from "allo-" (from Greek "allos", meaning other) and "onym" (from Greek "onuma", meaning name). The word refers to a name that is used by an author that is not their own, essentially an 'other name'.

Memory Tip

Think of 'other' ('allo-') and 'name' ('onym') to remember that an allonym is a name that belongs to someone else.

Visually Confused Words