namesake — a person or thing having the same name as another
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a person or thing having the same name as another
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈneɪmseɪk/
Example Sentences
- Martin Luther King Jr. was proud to be the namesake of the great reformer Martin Luther.
- The pizza restaurant 'Mario's' was actually founded by a guy named Steve, not his Italian namesake.
- My cat Shakespeare shows no interest in literature, unlike his famous namesake.
namesake
NOUN[/ˈneɪmseɪk/]
a person or thing having the same name as another

Grandfather and grandson sharing the same name

A namesake's handshake honors the keepsake
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Namesake originated in the 16th century from the phrase 'for the name's sake,' reflecting the practice of bestowing the same name upon a person to honor someone else. The term emerged from this custom of naming children or individuals after notable figures or relatives.
Breakdown
name (a person's designation or appellation) + sake (purpose, benefit, or regard). The compound originally meant 'for the sake of the name'—literally, a person given the same name for honoring another.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“Martin Luther King Jr. was proud to be the namesake of the great reformer Martin Luther.”
“The pizza restaurant 'Mario's' was actually founded by a guy named Steve, not his Italian namesake.”
“My cat Shakespeare shows no interest in literature, unlike his famous namesake.”
“The Ford Motor Company is a namesake company founded by Henry Ford.”
“Little Einstein keeps getting in trouble at school, disappointing his genius namesake.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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