anonymous

Meanings

1. 1adjectivenot comparable

   Describing a person whose name is not known or is deliberately kept secret.

   Grammar: Used before a noun or after remain: an anonymous donor; she remained anonymous.

   Patterns

   • remain anonymous
   • stay anonymous
   • an anonymous source

   An anonymous donor paid for the new library roof.

   The reporter protected her anonymous source.

   He asked to remain anonymous because he feared losing his job.

2. 2adjectivebefore a noun

   Written, sent or done by someone whose identity is not revealed.

   Grammar: Describes a thing, such as a letter or tip, not the person: an anonymous note.

   Patterns

   • an anonymous letter
   • an anonymous tip

   Police received an anonymous tip about the missing van.

   Someone left an anonymous note on my windshield.

   The survey is anonymous, so please answer honestly.

3. 3adjectivecomparablefigurative

   Lacking any special character or personality, so that it feels impersonal or forgettable.

   Grammar: Often describes places and buildings: an anonymous hotel room.

   Patterns

   • anonymous and something

   We stayed in an anonymous motel near the airport.

   The office towers looked gray and anonymous.

   In a big city you can feel like one anonymous face in the crowd.

Common combinations

remain anonymous

The winner chose to remain anonymous.

anonymous donor

An anonymous donor gave a million dollars.

anonymous tip

An anonymous tip led officers to the house.

anonymous source

The story relied on an anonymous source inside the company.

anonymous letter

She received an anonymous letter with no return address.

Synonyms and how they differ

unnamed

Unnamed simply says no name is given, while anonymous often implies the name was hidden on purpose.

nameless

Nameless is more literary and can suggest something too awful or vague to name, which anonymous does not.

unidentified

Unidentified suggests investigators have not yet worked out who someone is, not that the person chose secrecy.

incognito

Incognito describes someone hiding their identity while traveling or appearing in public, and is used for the person only.

Opposites

Word family

anonymously adverb

without revealing one's name

anonymity noun

the state of being unknown by name

pseudonym noun

a false name used instead of a real one

Commonly confused: anonymous or unanimous?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “anonymous”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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