ENGLISH
REFERENCE

anonymous

adj.
C1 Advanced Oxford US //əˈnɑnəməs// UK //ɐnˈɒnəməs// anony·mous

adj. having a name that is not known or not made public. You use this when you want to keep your identity a secret.

adj. lacking a name or an acknowledged identity; of unknown authorship or origin.


SIMPLE

The donor wants to remain anonymous.

CONTEXTUAL

The police received an anonymous tip that led them to the stolen car.

COMPLEX

While the internet allows for anonymous communication, it also presents challenges for verifying the credibility of information shared by unidentified sources.

Antonyms
Origin

Borrowed into English around 1600 from Late Latin anonymus, from Ancient Greek ᾰ̓νώνῠμος (ănṓnŭmos, “without name”), from ᾰ̓ν- (ăn-, “un-”) with ὄνῠμᾰ (ónŭmă), Aeolic and Doric dialectal form of ὄνομᾰ (ónomă, “name”). English equivalent anonym + -ous, its full etymology being an- + -onym + -ous.

Usage

Typically used as an attributive adjective before a noun or as a predicative adjective after a linking verb.

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