Phrase guide

in the name of

prep · 5 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

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1

prep

Meaning 1

With appeal to; by; often used to introduce oaths

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • In the name of all things sacred, please stop that screaming!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

prep

Meaning 2

For the sake of.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: on behalf of

Antonyms: none provided

3

prep

Meaning 3

By the authority of.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • In the name of the law, come out with your hands up.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

prep

Meaning 4

Under the name or possession of.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • He put the house in the name of his children.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

prep

Meaning 5

Under the designation or excuse of.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • These additional checks at airports are justified in the name of security.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Middle English in the name of, in þe name of.

Across languages

Translations

60 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: بِٱسْمِ (bismi) — with appeal to
  • Armenian: հանուն (hanun) — with appeal to
  • Dutch: in naam van — with appeal to
  • Finnish: nimessä — with appeal to
  • French: au nom de — with appeal to
  • Galician: en nome de — with appeal to
  • German: im Namen — with appeal to
  • Hungarian: nevében — with appeal to
  • Icelandic: í bænum — with appeal to
  • Irish: in ainm — with appeal to
  • Persian: به (be) — with appeal to
  • Polish: w imieniu — with appeal to
  • Russian: во и́мя (vo ímja) — with appeal to
  • Welsh: yn enw — with appeal to
  • Arabic: بِٱسْمِ (bismi) — by the authority of
  • Cornish: a-barth — by the authority of
  • Cornish: bar' — by the authority of
  • Czech: ve jménu — by the authority of
  • Dutch: namens — by the authority of
  • Finnish: nimessä — by the authority of
  • French: au nom de — by the authority of
  • Galician: en nome de — by the authority of
  • German: im Namen — by the authority of
  • Hebrew: בְּשֵׁם (beshém) — by the authority of
  • Hungarian: nevében — by the authority of
  • Icelandic: í orðastað — by the authority of
  • Icelandic: fyrir hönd — by the authority of
  • Icelandic: í nafni — by the authority of
  • Irish: in ainm — by the authority of
  • Persian: به نامِ (be nâm-e) — by the authority of
  • Polish: w imieniu — by the authority of
  • Russian: и́менем (ímenem) — by the authority of
  • Welsh: yn enw — by the authority of
  • Arabic: بِٱسْمِ (bismi) — under the name of
  • Armenian: հանուն (hanun) — under the name of
  • Dutch: onder de naam van — under the name of
  • Finnish: nimissä — under the name of
  • Finnish: nimiin — under the name of
  • Finnish: nimistä — under the name of
  • French: au nom de — under the name of
  • Galician: a nome de — under the name of
  • German: im Namen — under the name of
  • Hebrew: עַל שׁוּם (al shum) — under the name of
  • Hungarian: nevében — under the name of
  • Irish: in ainm — under the name of
  • Persian: به نامِ (be nâm-e) — under the name of
  • Polish: w imieniu — under the name of
  • Russian: на и́мя (na ímja) — under the name of
  • Welsh: yn enw — under the name of
  • Arabic: بِٱسْمِ (bismi) — under the excuse of
  • Finnish: nimissä — under the excuse of
  • French: au nom de — under the excuse of
  • German: im Namen — under the excuse of
  • Hebrew: בְּשֵׁם (beshém) — under the excuse of
  • Hungarian: nevében — under the excuse of
  • Irish: in ainm — under the excuse of
  • Persian: به اسمِ (be esm-e) — under the excuse of
  • Polish: w imię — under the excuse of
  • Russian: от и́мени (ot ímeni) — under the excuse of
  • Welsh: yn enw — under the excuse of