Anonymous Meaning
/əˈnɒn.ə.məs/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjLacking a name; not named, for example an animal not assigned to any species .
adjWithout any name acknowledged of a person responsible.
Sentence Examples
An astute reader should be willing to weigh everything they read, including anonymous sources.
The poem was composed by an anonymous author.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The poem was written by an ____ author whose name was never revealed.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The library received a large donation from an ____ donor last week.
Word Origin & History
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.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The shift in the balance of power online has allowed anyone to publish to the world, from dispirited teenagers in south London to an anonymous cyber-dissident in a Middle East autocracy."
— 2012 April 19, Josh Halliday, “Free speech haven or lawless cesspool – can the internet be civilised?”, in The Guardian:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The poem was written by an ____ author whose name was never revealed.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The library received a large donation from an ____ donor last week.