autonym

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UK/ˈɔːtənɪm/US/ˈɔdn̩ɪm/US/ˈɑdn̩ɪm/

noun

An infraspecific name in which the specific epithet is repeated.

“Near-synonym: type variety”

Scrabble 12

Meanings

nounautonym (plural autonyms)

plural autonyms

  1. biologyAn infraspecific name in which the specific epithet is repeated.

    Near-synonym: type variety

    Synonyms: type variety

  2. anthropologyA name used by a group or category of people to refer to themselves or their language, as opposed to a name given to them by other groups.

    Deutsche is the autonym of the people known in English as Germans.

    Synonyms: endonym, selfname · Antonyms: exonym, xenonym

  3. The true name of a person or other entity, especially an author.
    1 more example

    As a general principle, the heading of the main entry of the book should be in the form in which the book itself is published; that is, if it is published under an autonym let the autonym be given, if under a pseudonym, then let the pseudonym be given, and if the book be anonymous, then let the fact be stated.

    1900, Mr. Barnwell, “Cataloging Roundtable”, in Library Journal, page 157

    Synonyms: orthonym, alethonym · Antonyms: pseudonym, allonym, alias, pen name, nom de plume, nom de clavier, nom de Web, stage name

  4. A work published under the author's true name.

    Antonyms: allonym

Synonyms & antonyms

nounAn infraspecific name in which the specific epithet is repeated.

nounA name used by a group or category of people to refer to themselves or their language, as opposed to a name given to them by other groups.

nounThe true name of a person or other entity, especially an author.

nounA work published under the author's true name.

Opposite

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*h₂ew
  2. Proto-Indo-European*tó-
  3. Proto-Hellenic*autós
  4. Proto-Indo-European*h₂ew
  5. Ancient Greekαὖ (aû)
  6. Ancient Greekτόν (tón)
  7. Ancient Greekαὐτός (autós)
  8. Ancient Greekαὐτο- (auto-)
  9. Englishauto-
  10. Ancient Greekὄνυμα (ónuma)
  11. Englishautonym

From auto- (“self”) + -onym (“name”).

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

autonym. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/autonym

MLA

“autonym.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/autonym. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “autonym,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/autonym.

Source: autonym on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.