# nicknamed

/ˈnɪkˌneɪmd/ (US) · /nˈɪkneɪmd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/nicknamed
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. having an informal name

adjective · CEFR B2

having a special name that friends or family use instead of your real name.

For teachers: possessing or known by a familiar, often descriptive, name given in place of the proper name.

- The tall building, nicknamed 'The Pencil' by locals, is easy to find.
- The nicknamed athlete found that his informal moniker eventually became more recognisable to the public than his actual legal name.

### 2. to give a name to

verb · CEFR B2

to give someone or something an informal name.

For teachers: to give a familiar or humorous name to a person or thing. Transitive verb usually taking a direct object and a complement.

- His friends nicknamed him 'Speedy' because he was the fastest runner.
- The press nicknamed the new legislation 'The Green Shield' long before the government had even finalised the official title of the bill.

## Examples

- The tall player is nicknamed 'Tiny' by his teammates.
- The city is nicknamed 'The Big Apple' by locals and tourists alike because of its vibrant energy.
- The historical figure, nicknamed 'the Great' by later scholars, actually presided over a period of significant economic decline that his contemporaries viewed with great suspicion.

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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.