Alias | English Vocabulary


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An alias is an assumed name, a false name, a pseudonym, etc. It is any name that someone uses other than their legal name.

This includes names used by criminals to evade law enforcement, a name used by a spy or undercover agent, a stage name used by a perfomer, an author’s pen name, or even a name used on social media (although screen-name is a better word for this).

Although alias is a noun, it is also used as an adverb to mean the same as aka or ‘also known as,’ but also for people.

“Lawrence Tureaud, alias Mr. T, became famous as a cast member of the classic TV show, The A-Team.”

Usage Notes

Although an alias technically refers to any assumed name, the term is usually reserved for those names adopted by criminals, spies, undercover agents, etc.

An author’s assumed name is usually called a pseudonym, pen name, or nom de plume. A performer’s assumed name is usually called a stage name.

A name used on social media is usually called a screen name. or username.

Examples of How to Use Alias in a Sentence

“The FBI agent’s favorite alias was Crocket A. Tubs, for obvious reasons.”

“Al Capone, alias Scarface, was a notorious mobster during the Prohibition era in Chicago.”

“We have reason to believe the suspect is in Jacksonhole and is using an alias.”

“A co-conspirator of John Wilkes Booth, Lewis Thornton Powell, alias Lewis Payne, attempted to assassinate Secretary of State William Henry Steward, at the same time that Booth assassinated Lincoln.”

Origin

Alias is related to the English word alibi. Both entered the language as legal terms and both descended from the Latin word alius, although along slightly different paths.

The Latin word alius, which is related to the Greek word allos, meant ‘other.’ The English word alias derived from a form of the word alius that meant otherwise: aliās.

Alibi is a direct borrowing of the locative form of alius, denoting place or location, so that alibi meant ‘other place’ or elsewhere.

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