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History of Nickname
It might look like nickname is a compound noun formed by adding nick and name together, but the actual history of this word is a bit more complicated. It was formed by metanalysis, or the changing of the division of words based upon how they sound together. In this case, the Middle English word eke, meaning “also” or “in addition,” was joined with name to form ekename—literally, “also-name,” used for a secondary or unofficial name in the late Middle Ages. Over time, an ekename became a nickname presumably because eke had become less familiar as a word. Needless to say, nick in this case doesn’t mean “also” or anything else, it just represents a comfortable and familiar alternative to the word’s original spelling.
Synonyms
Examples of nickname in a Sentence
Kaycee Sloan, The Enquirer, 6 Nov. 2024
However, because its peculiar shape was reminiscent of a clothes iron, the Flatiron nickname quickly stuck.
—Elizabeth Fazzare, Architectural Digest, 5 Nov. 2024
Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024
Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary, nicknamed Mr. Wonderful, has openly criticized lawfare against Trump and defended some of the former president’s proposals.
—Sarah Bedford, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 2 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for nickname 
Dictionary Entries Near nickname
Cite this Entry
“Nickname.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nickname. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
nickname
1 of 2 noun
nickname
2 of 2 verbNoun
Middle English nekename "an additional name," from the phrase an ekename (misunderstood as being a nekename), from eke "something added on" and name "name"
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