pen name

noun

: an author's pseudonym

Examples of pen name in a Sentence

Samuel L. Clemens is better known by his pen name “Mark Twain.”
Recent Examples on the Web And Kendall’s Grace is prolific, with 171 novels listed on Amazon’s Goodreads site for that pen name alone. Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 17 July 2024 Mabry adapted the film with Cee Marcellus (a pen name for The Woman King’s Gina Prince-Bythewood) from the novel of the same name by Edward Kelsey Moore. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019 And then another and another … Today, the Fremont resident writes under several pen names. Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 17 July 2024 The movie is based on a book by the same title by a popular Italian author whose pen name is Felicia Kingsley. Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 15 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for pen name 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pen name.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1864, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pen name was circa 1864

Dictionary Entries Near pen name

Cite this Entry

“Pen name.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pen%20name. Accessed 24 Aug. 2024.

Kids Definition

pen name

noun
: a false name used by an author

More from Merriam-Webster on pen name

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