username

noun

us·​er·​name ˈyü-zər-ˌnām 

variants or less commonly user name

plural usernames also user names

: a sequence of characters that identifies a user (such as on a computer system, website, or social media platform)

Never reuse a username and password combination. While doing so is convenient, if that combination is ever stolen from one service you use … it will expose every service you have that uses it.

—Rachel Cericola

These e-mail addresses generally look like this: "[e-mail]".

—Walter S. Mossberg

called also user ID

Examples of username in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For the specific comment referenced, the police report includes the commenter’s Instagram username, which links to an account with five followers and zero posts. —Miami Herald, 9 June 2026

The support team issued him a temporary username and password. —Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026

Helphenstein posted online under the username @JerryGogosian, and her Instagram page had over 150,000 followers. —Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026

Using a tool that scans multiple social media platforms at once can improve your chances, especially if the person uses different usernames or accounts. —Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 26 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1971, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for username

• aspartame
• counterclaim
• overcame
• underframe
• acclaim
• aflame
• airframe
• ballgame
• became
• declaim
• defame
• disclaim

Kids Definition

username

noun

: a sequence of characters that identifies a user when logging onto a computer or website

called also user ID