nickname — a familiar or humorous name given to a person or thing instead of or as well as the real name
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a familiar or humorous name given to a person or thing instead of or as well as the real name
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈnɪkneɪm/
Example Sentences
- My grandmother's nickname for me is 'Pumpkin', which is embarrassing when she yells it in public.
- The basketball player earned the nickname 'The Tower' because of his height.
- She hates her nickname 'Giggles' but can't stop people from using it.
nickname
NOUN[/ˈnɪkneɪm/]
a familiar or humorous name given to a person or thing instead of or as well as the real name

His teammates gave him the nickname 'Rocket' because he runs so fast.

Pick a nickname, quick as a stick!
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Middle English 'eke name' meaning 'additional name,' where 'eke' meant 'also' or 'additional.' Over time, 'an eke name' was reanalyzed as 'a neke name' and eventually became 'a nickname.'
Breakdown
eke (additional/also) + name → nickname (through reanalysis of word boundaries)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My grandmother's nickname for me is 'Pumpkin', which is embarrassing when she yells it in public.”
“The basketball player earned the nickname 'The Tower' because of his height.”
“She hates her nickname 'Giggles' but can't stop people from using it.”
“The city's nickname is 'The Big Apple', known worldwide.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.