pseudonymity

[ sood-n-im-i-tee ]

noun

1. pseudonymous character.
2. use of a pseudonym.

Word History and Origins

Origin of pseudonymity¹

First recorded in 1875–80; pseudonym + -ity

Example Sentences

Lee Reiners, policy director of Duke Financial Economics Center, testified that “crypto pseudonymity makes it ideally suited for bad actors” and that ransomware gangs — which use malicious software to block computer system access until a ransom is paid — wouldn’t exist without cryptocurrency because it’s “the exclusive payment method of choice for ransomware hackers.”

From Los Angeles Times

Meta forces Horizon users to design avatars that look like real people — no giant bananas or huge robots — and many people choose to look as they do in real life, but pseudonymity is still part of the appeal.

From New York Times

In allotting greater control over how users presented themselves online – through, for example, pseudonymity and relaxed content moderation – Tumblr stood out as a bastion for creative expression.

From Salon

That way, Twitter could still potentially “authenticate all real humans,” as Musk has called for, without banning anonymity or pseudonymity.

From Washington Post

“Pseudonymity is an old idea, authors have used pen names for a variety of reasons for centuries, but that pen name still has longevity and achievements attached to it.”

From Slate

More About Pseudonymity

What does pseudonymity mean?

Pseudonymity is the state of using or being published under a pseudonym—a false or fictitious name, especially one used by an author.

There are many reasons an author may choose to use a pseudonym instead of their own name, such as to avoid controversy or to create a persona. Many women authors throughout history have used a male or gender-neutral pseudonym to get their work published due to bias against women writers. A famous example is Mary Ann Evans, who used the pseudonym George Eliot.

The word pseudonymity is also used in the context of online communication that involves users identifying themselves with names other than their real names.

Example: The pseudonymity of some online platforms can make it difficult to tell the difference between bots and real users.

Where does pseudonymity come from?

The first records of the word pseudonymity come from the 1870s. It ultimately comes from the Greek pseudṓnymon, meaning “false name.” The prefix pseudo- means “false,” and -onym means “name” (it can also mean “word,” and is used in words like synonym and acronym). The suffix -ity indicates a state or condition and is used the same way in anonymity.

What’s the difference between pseudonymity and anonymity? Anonymity is the state of being anonymous—completely unknown or unidentifiable. Anonymity can be achieved by using a pseudonym, but pseudonymity doesn’t necessarily mean that someone is completely unknown. For example, some authors are more popularly known by their pseudonyms (Mark Twain) than their real names (Samuel Langhorne Clemens).

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to pseudonymity?

• pseudonym (noun)
• pseudonymous (adjective)

What are some words that share a root or word element with pseudonymity? 

 

• anonymous
• pseudoscience
• synonym
• antonym
• acronym

What are some words that often get used in discussing pseudonymity?

 

• anonymity
• pen name
• nom de plume
• alias
• name
• false
• fake
• fictitious
• identity
• author
• writer
• publish
• book
• novel
• authorship

How is pseudonymity used in real life?

The word pseudonymity is most often associated with writers who use pseudonyms.

Why the ‘Reclaim Her Name’ project, republishing female authors without their pen names, misunderstands pseudonymity and anonymity (@KatyaTaylor) https://t.co/JmGc2rBcDj

— The TLS (@TheTLS) August 17, 2020

Another thing about Twitter is thanks to pseudonymity and virality, a 14-year-old saying "Stalin did nothing wrong" can get a New York Times level of public attention and exposure from people who never stop to think about whether they're reading a 14-year-old edgelord kid.

— Noah Smith 🐇 (@Noahpinion) August 17, 2020

#Pseudonymity is a concept that will be organically implemented through tech across most fields of knowledge given that it checks all the incentives removing social nuances and ad hominems, leaving only the useful stuff on the table, and an adress to pay for it.

— Listener (@trashlisten) August 11, 2020

 

 

Try using pseudonymity!

True or False? 

Pseudonymity and anonymity always mean the same exact thing.