Definition of MONIKER

moniker

Plural: monikers

Noun

  • A name or nickname.
  • a familiar name for a person (often a shortened version of a person's given name)
  • A personal name or nickname; an informal label, often drawing attention to a particular attribute.
  • A person's signature.
  • An object (structured item of data) used to associate the name of an object with its location.

Examples

  • His MONIKER on the Scrabble leaderboard was ’Word Wizard’, a testament to his consistent high scores.
  • The rookie was upset at being called Lemon Drop until she realized that everyone on the team had a silly moniker.

Origin / Etymology

Unknown; first attested in 1849. Suggested derivations are:
* Backslang for ekename (compare nickname);
* From Shelta munik, munika;
* From monk;
* Partridge (A Dictionary of Historical Slang) suggests a corruption of monogram, which is suggestive of the sense signature.
* From monarch in the sense 'king or No. 1, and thus with frank egotism, "I, myself".' (The Gentleman's Magazine, Vol. 281, pg. 349.)
Online Etymological Dictionary's entry cites the Saturday Review (London newspaper) of 1857, which noted, "the word has a certain Coptic or Egyptian twang".

Synonyms

byname, cognomen, nickname, sobriquet, soubriquet, name, nomenclature, proper name, pseudonym, street name, tag, to-name

Scrabble Score: 13

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

Words With Friends Score: 15

moniker: valid Words With Friends Word