anonymous

adjective

anon·​y·​mous ə-ˈnä-nə-məs How to pronounce anonymous (audio)
1
: of unknown authorship or origin
an anonymous tip
2
: not named or identified
an anonymous author
They wish to remain anonymous.
3
: lacking individuality, distinction, or recognizability
the anonymous faces in the crowd
… the gray anonymous streets …William Styron
anonymousness noun

Examples of anonymous in a Sentence

The donor wishes to remain anonymous. An anonymous buyer purchased the painting. The college received an anonymous gift. He made an anonymous phone call to the police. The reporter got an anonymous tip. His was just another anonymous face in the crowd.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For anonymous tips, call (800) 222-8477 or visit the LACrimeStoppers website. Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2025 With much respect to this anonymous sage, there’s even more to glean from watching an unfiltered 60-something Moore take on youth, beauty and fame on the screen. Mara Reinstein, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Feb. 2025 All tips remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward. Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 24 Feb. 2025 Denver is limiting its public campaign finance system after complaints about how money was spent in the 2023 election, such as banning spending on alcohol and anonymous cash donations. Axios Denver, Axios, 24 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for anonymous

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin anōnymos, anōnymus "lacking a name" (borrowed from Greek anṓnymos "lacking a name, unnamed, not well-known or remembered," from an- an- + -ōnymos, derivative in adjectival compounds of ónoma, Doric and Aeolic dialects ónyma "name") + -ous — more at name entry 1

First Known Use

1625, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of anonymous was in 1625

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Anonymous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anonymous. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

anonymous

adjective
anon·​y·​mous ə-ˈnän-ə-məs How to pronounce anonymous (audio)
1
: not named or identified
the donor remained anonymous
2
: made or done by someone unknown
anonymous gifts
an anonymous poem
anonymously adverb
anonymousness noun
Etymology

from Latin anonymus "anonymous," from Greek anonymos (same meaning), from an-, a- "not, without" and onyma, onoma "name" — related to synonymous

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