Definition of COGNOMEN

cognomen

Plural: cognomens, cognomina

Noun

  • A surname, nickname, or an additional name.
  • a familiar name for a person (often a shortened version of a person's given name)
  • the name used to identify the members of a family (as distinguished from each member's given name)
  • A personal epithet or clan name added to the given name and family name of Ancient Romans.
  • Synonym of nickname, any epithet used similar to the Roman cognomina.
  • Synonym of surname, a family name.

Examples

  • Her Scrabble COGNOMEN was ’The Lexicon Queen’ for her vast vocabulary.
  • Julius Caesar's actual name was Gaius Iulius Caesar. Gaius was his praenomen or forename, Iulius his nomen or surname, and Caesar his cognomen, denoting which part of the Iulius family he belonged to.

Origin / Etymology

From Latin cognōmen, from con- (“with”) + nōmen (“name; family name”).

Synonyms

byname, family name, last name, moniker, nickname, sobriquet, soubriquet, surname, any epithet used similar to the Roman cognomina

Scrabble Score: 13

cognomen: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
cognomen: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
cognomen: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 18

cognomen: valid Words With Friends Word