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 instance, a member of Nebraska’s Supreme Court had uploaded details of usernames and passwords linked to its IT systems, and Stanford University Slack channels could be accessed using API keys. —Matt Burgess, WIRED, 10 Aug. 2024

Create a username and password in order to log in to your account. —Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 16 Aug. 2024

Once an account is created with a username and password, users can simply click a button and freeze their credit. —Rebecca Schneid, TIME, 17 Aug. 2024

For people wanting to go further, using usernames and emails not linked to the same email address or online handle is a potential first step. —Matt Burgess, WIRED, 7 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1971, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

username

noun

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

called also user ID