# anonymous

/əˈnɑnəməs/ (US) · /ɐnˈɒnəməs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/anonymous
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. name not known or shared

adjective · CEFR B2

having a name that is not known or is not made public.

For teachers: of unknown or undisclosed authorship or identity. Often used when a person chooses to hide their name for privacy or safety.

- The police received an anonymous tip about the robbery from a caller who refused to give their name.
- The museum received a significant donation from an anonymous benefactor who requested that their identity remain confidential for tax purposes.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun it describes.

### 2. lacking character

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary

having no special features or character, making it look like everything else.

For teachers: lacking individual features or distinctive character; unremarkable and easily forgotten.

- The company moved into an anonymous grey office building in the middle of the city.
- The suburbs were filled with anonymous housing developments that lacked any sense of local history or architectural charm.

Teaching tip: This sense is more abstract; it suggests that something is so plain that it has no 'identity' of its own.

## Examples

- The donor wants to remain anonymous.
- The police received an anonymous tip that led them to the stolen car.
- While the internet allows for anonymous communication, it also presents challenges for verifying the credibility of information shared by unidentified sources.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.