cognomen

noun

käg-ˈnō-mən How to pronounce cognomen (audio)
Definition of cognomennext
1
as in nickname
a descriptive or familiar name given instead of or in addition to the one belonging to an individual richly deserved the cognomen of "Butterfingers"

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in moniker
a word or combination of words by which a person or thing is regularly known "Christopher Columbus" is the Latinized cognomen of the navigator who was known to his Spanish crewmates as Cristóbal Colón

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 cognomen The cognomen, or surname, of the Oba is Ekpen-owa, or home leopard. — NOLA.com, 1 Feb. 2021 Moore submitted dozens of wonderful, wondrous cognomens, including Mongoose Civique, Regina-rex, Aeroterre, Dearborn Diamanté and the deathless Utopian Turtletop. — Dan Neil, WSJ, 20 Mar. 2020 Denmark, Iceland, Hungary and Saudi Arabia also enforce specific naming conventions where common American cognomens might not make the cut. — Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, 26 Sep. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cognomen
  1. nickname
  2. moniker
  3. epithet
  4. name
  5. surname
  6. title
  7. nomenclature
Noun
  • His daughter Angela West said farming had been part of her father’s life long before Kansas City knew his nickname.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Hig nicknames her The Beast, which seems more of an inner monologue moniker.
    — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of nickname
Noun
  • Bart Bart Starr led the Packers to victories in the first two Super Bowls ever played, making this moniker ideal for football history buffs.
    — Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Under Moreno, the team that had been the Anaheim Angels changed their moniker to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2005.
    — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of moniker
Noun
  • The raid drew criticism over separating families, and a group of Idahoans sued, saying officers hurled racial epithets and largely withheld water, food, bathrooms and medical care.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Hochman detailed a number of prosecutions, including the sentence of one man to a life sentence plus seven years with the possibility of parole for a March 23 attack, during which racial epithets were uttered.
    — City News Service, Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of epithet
Noun
  • For these brands, lab-grown is in the name, and their styles are more akin to traditional natural diamond brands.
    — Madeleine Schulz, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2026
  • That’s an appealing quality for Hegseth, who wants Parnell for the job, a second administration official said — and his name has been mentioned for a while now, given that Driscoll’s departure by the end of the year was expected.
    — Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of name
Noun
  • Pegula was born in South Korea, where Kim is also a popular surname.
    — Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 1 Sep. 2026
  • How many married women have been known for 10, 20, 30, 40 years by their husband’s surname?
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of surname
Noun
  • The title received Ontario Creates Development Funding and in June 2026 was awarded production funding from Telefilm Canada.
    — Jennie Punter, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The platform launched with 10 original series, including titles from The Bold and the Beautiful executive producer and head writer Bradley Bell and Abominable Pictures founder and Childrens Hospital executive producer Jonathan Stern.
    — Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of title
Noun
  • Many women-forward organizations are rightfully changing their nomenclature and their audience to be inclusive of non-binary and trans women, because that’s a whole other subsection that is often more ignored.
    — Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Public-health officials coined a nonjudgmental nomenclature that persists to this day.
    — Michael Powell, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026
Definition of nomenclature

Browse Nearby Words

cognizing
cognomen
cognomens
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Cite this Entry

“Cognomen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cognomen. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cognomen

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cognomen

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