pen name

noun

: an author's pseudonym

Examples of pen name in a Sentence

Samuel L. Clemens is better known by his pen name “Mark Twain.”
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The Hollywood Reporter can exclusively present the first trailer for the film about two sisters with a strong bond that is inspired by the novel of the same name by Janusz Korczak, also known under his pen name Henryk Goldszmit. Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 1 Apr. 2025 Raised in Villa Park, Calif., Smith chose to model her pen name after her two favorite fantasy writers, Lord of the Rings author J.R.R. Tolkien and The Chronicles of Narnia author C.S. Lewis. Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 27 Mar. 2025 Ludwig, which premieres on BritBox March 20, seeks to correct this, casting Mitchell as John Taylor, a reclusive puzzle-maker who lifts his pen name from a vinyl cover of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. Anne Victoria Clark, Vulture, 21 Mar. 2025 Based on the classic Stephen King novel written under pen name Richard Bachman, The Running Man is set in an oppressive future where the government controls the media. Justin Kroll, Deadline, 20 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for pen name

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1864, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pen name was circa 1864

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pen name.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pen%20name. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

pen name

noun
: a false name used by an author

More from Merriam-Webster on pen name

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!