Standard Lemma guide

alias

adv · noun · verb · 11 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • US: /ˈeɪ.li.əs/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -eɪliəs
  • CMU ARPABET: EY1 L IY0 AH0 S Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adv

Meaning 1

Otherwise; at another time; in other circumstances; otherwise called; also known as; formerly known as.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adv

Meaning 2

Used to connect the different names of a person who has gone by two or more, and whose true name is for any cause doubtful

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Topics: law

Examples

  • Smith, alias Simpson.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Another name; especially, an assumed name.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: synonym, poecilonym, pseudonym

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

A second or further writ which is issued after a first writ has expired without effect.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: law

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

An abbreviation that replaces a string of commands and thereby reduces typing when performing routine actions or tasks.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

An alternate name assigned to something, e.g. a database column to avoid ambiguity in a query.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, programming, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

noun

Meaning 7

A spurious signal generated as a technological artifact.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences, signal-processing

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

verb

Meaning 8

To assign an additional name to an entity, often a more user-friendly one.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

verb

Meaning 9

To make or become indistinguishable.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: ambitransitive

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences, signal-processing

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

adverb

Meaning 10

as known or named at another time or place

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Mr. Smith, alias Mr. Lafayette

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: a.k.a., also known as

Antonyms: none provided

11

noun

Meaning 11

a name that has been assumed temporarily

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: assumed name, false name

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: name

History

Etymology

From Latin alias (“at another time; at another place, elsewhere, under other circumstances, otherwise”). See else and alien.

Across languages

Translations

71 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: alias — adverb
  • Hungarian: alias — adverb
  • Polish: alias — adverb
  • Spanish: alias — adverb
  • Swedish: alias — adverb
  • Azerbaijani: ləqəb — another name; an assumed name
  • Bashkir: ҡушамат (quşamat) — another name; an assumed name
  • Basque: ezizen — another name; an assumed name
  • Basque: goitizen — another name; an assumed name
  • Belarusian: псеўдані́м (psjewdaním) — another name; an assumed name
  • Belarusian: мяну́шка (mjanúška) — another name; an assumed name
  • Belarusian: клі́чка (klíčka) — another name; an assumed name
  • Bulgarian: псевдони́м (psevdoním) — another name; an assumed name
  • Bulgarian: про́звище (prózvište) — another name; an assumed name
  • Catalan: àlies — another name; an assumed name
  • Chinese Mandarin: 別名 /别名 (biémíng) — another name; an assumed name
  • Chinese Mandarin: 化名 (huàmíng) — another name; an assumed name
  • Esperanto: alinomo — another name; an assumed name
  • Finnish: alias — another name; an assumed name
  • French: pseudonyme — another name; an assumed name
  • German: Pseudonym — another name; an assumed name
  • German: Deckname — another name; an assumed name
  • Greek: ψευδώνυμο (psevdónymo) — another name; an assumed name
  • Ido: pseudonimo — another name; an assumed name
  • Ido: alias — another name; an assumed name
  • Indonesian: alias — another name; an assumed name
  • Irish: ainm bréige — another name; an assumed name
  • Irish: ailias — another name; an assumed name
  • Japanese: 仮名 (kamei) — another name; an assumed name
  • Japanese: 偽名 (gimei) — another name; an assumed name
  • Japanese: 異名 (imyō) — another name; an assumed name
  • Japanese: 雅号 (gagō) — another name; an assumed name
  • Japanese: 別名 (betsumei) — another name; an assumed name
  • Korean: 가명 (gamyeong) — another name; an assumed name
  • Korean: 별명 (byeolmyeong) — another name; an assumed name
  • Lithuanian: slapyvardis — another name; an assumed name
  • Lithuanian: pseudonimas — another name; an assumed name
  • Middle English: surname — another name; an assumed name
  • Middle English: surnoun — another name; an assumed name
  • Odia: ଓରଫ୍ (oraph) — another name; an assumed name
  • Iranian Persian: نامِ مُسْتَعار (nâm-e mosta'âr) — another name; an assumed name
  • Polish: alias — another name; an assumed name
  • Portuguese: pseudónimo — another name; an assumed name
  • Portuguese: pseudônimo — another name; an assumed name
  • Portuguese: cognome — another name; an assumed name
  • Russian: псевдони́м (psevdoním) — another name; an assumed name
  • Russian: про́звище (prózvišče) — another name; an assumed name
  • Russian: кли́чка (klíčka) — another name; an assumed name
  • Russian: вы́мышленное и́мя (výmyšlennoje ímja) — another name; an assumed name
  • Spanish: alias — another name; an assumed name
  • Spanish: seudónimo — another name; an assumed name
  • Spanish: sobrenombre — another name; an assumed name
  • Spanish: apodo — another name; an assumed name
  • Swahili: jina bandia — another name; an assumed name
  • Swedish: alias — another name; an assumed name
  • Swedish: pseudonym — another name; an assumed name
  • Swedish: öknamn — another name; an assumed name
  • Swedish: tillnamn — another name; an assumed name
  • Ukrainian: псевдоні́м (psevdoním) — another name; an assumed name
  • Ukrainian: прі́звисько (prízvysʹko) — another name; an assumed name
  • Ukrainian: кли́чка (klýčka) — another name; an assumed name
  • Welsh: enw arall — another name; an assumed name
  • Welsh: alias — another name; an assumed name
  • Esperanto: kromnomo — abbreviation that replaces a string of commands (computing)
  • Spanish: alias — abbreviation that replaces a string of commands (computing)
  • Swedish: alias — abbreviation that replaces a string of commands (computing)
  • Esperanto: sinonimi — to assign an additional name to an entity
  • Esperanto: alinomi — to assign an additional name to an entity
  • Esperanto: kromnomi — to assign an additional name to an entity
  • Finnish: aliasoida — to assign an additional name to an entity
  • Swedish: aliasa — to assign an additional name to an entity
Real reading context

alias in complete knowledge articles