nickname

nickname — noun

1. a familiar alternative name given to someone, somewhere, or something that is us

1.nounB1
Definition

a familiar alternative name given to someone, somewhere, or something that is used instead of or beside the real name, often based on how they look, what they are like, or a short form of the real name

Example

The children at school called him "Shorty", a nickname he hated.

called + nickname as object complement

Kofi's real name is Kwame, but everyone uses his nickname, "Junior".

Common collocations
  • earned the nickname
  • go by the nickname
  • nickname stuck
  • childhood nickname
Synonyms
  • moniker

    more playful or humorous; less common in everyday speech

  • alias

    used for a false or hidden name, often for secrecy rather than affection

  • handle

    informal; used especially for usernames in online communities or gaming

Grammar Patterns

the nickname + [name]

nickname for + [person/place]

Usage Note

Nicknames are most common in informal settings — among friends, family, classmates, or teammates. They can show affection, humour, or teasing, and are rarely used in formal writing or official documents.

Common Mistakes

My nickname is called Andy.
My nickname is Andy.
'nickname' already refers to the name itself, so adding 'called' is redundant.

nickname — verb

Word family

  • nicknamed
    adjectiveB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Nickname is the general, everyday word for an informal alternative name, often given affectionately or humorously by friends or family. Moniker is more playful or journalistic — you might read about a celebrity's new moniker in a magazine, but you would not normally use it in conversation. Alias has a very different tone: it suggests a false name used to hide one's identity, such as a criminal's alias or a spy's cover name. Handle belongs to online culture — it is the username you choose for a forum, chat app, or video game. For most real-life situations involving friends, school, or family, nickname is the natural choice.

nickname ↗monikeralias ↗handle ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • nickname stuck
  • nickname originated
  • school nickname

Phrases

  • go by the nickname
  • earn the nickname
  • live up to one's nickname

Prepositions

  • known by the nickname
  • nickname for

Etymology

Middle EnglishOld English

The word comes from Middle English 'nekename', which itself came from 'an ekename' — where 'eke' means 'also' or 'additional'. Over time, the 'n' from the article 'an' moved to the noun, changing 'an ekename' into 'a nekename', and eventually into 'nickname'.