as in nickname
a descriptive or familiar name given instead of or in addition to the one belonging to an individual Thomas Edward Lawrence is better known to most people by his byname, Lawrence of Arabia

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of byname Robert the Wise was a good teacher — and, as his byname suggests, a good role model. Anne Thériault, Longreads, 3 July 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for byname
Noun
  • But few nicknames reach the height of the headless chicken monster.
    Amanda Kooser, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
  • The rocky bluffs make the waters particularly treacherous, earning the tip of Door County a wild nickname: Death’s Door.
    Jacqueline Kehoe, AFAR Media, 21 May 2025
Noun
  • The words were names, surnames, dates, cities and towns, sometimes with illustrations for reference, according to the release.
    Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 30 May 2025
  • And that’s without mentioning him taking on his team’s name as his surname.
    Phil Hay, New York Times, 29 May 2025
Noun
  • The men pulled Khan and his relatives from the truck and began beating them and shouting anti-Muslim epithets.
    Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Police said an investigation revealed the man had been sitting in the plaza when the woman approached him and without provocation spat on him while yelling a racial epithet directed at Black people.
    Jason Green, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Byname.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/byname. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!