autonym

English

Etymology

From auto- (“self”) +‎ -onym (“name”).

Noun

autonym (plural autonyms)

1. (taxonomy) An infraspecific name in which the specific epithet is repeated.

   Synonym: type variety

2. (linguistics, anthropology) A name used by a group or category of people to refer to themselves or their language, as opposed to a name given to them by other groups.

   Synonyms: endonym, selfname, autoglossonym

   Antonyms: exonym, xenonym

   Deutsche is the autonym of the people known in English as Germans.

3. The true name of a person or other entity, especially an author.

   Antonyms: pseudonym, alias, pen name

   • 1900, Mr. Barnwell, “Cataloging Roundtable”, in Library Journal, page 157:

     As a general principle, the heading of the main entry of the book should be in the form in which the book itself is published; that is, if it is published under an autonym let the autonym be given, if under a pseudonym, then let the pseudonym be given, and if the book be anonymous, then let the fact be stated.

4. A work published under the author's true name.

Derived terms

• autonymous

Related terms

• demonym
• ethnonym
• glossonym

Translations

a name used by a group or category of people to refer to themselves or their language — see endonym

German

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [aʊ̯toˈnyːm]

• Audio

  (file)

Adjective

autonym (strong nominative masculine singular autonymer, not comparable)

1. autonymous

Declension

Positive forms of autonym (uncomparable)

number & gender		singular			plural
		masculine	feminine	neuter
predicative		er ist autonym	sie ist autonym	es ist autonym	sie sind autonym
strong declension (without article)	nominative	autonymer	autonyme	autonymes	autonyme
	genitive	autonymen	autonymer	autonymen	autonymer
	dative	autonymem	autonymer	autonymem	autonymen
	accusative	autonymen	autonyme	autonymes	autonyme
weak declension (with definite article)	nominative	der autonyme	die autonyme	das autonyme	die autonymen
	genitive	des autonymen	der autonymen	des autonymen	der autonymen
	dative	dem autonymen	der autonymen	dem autonymen	den autonymen
	accusative	den autonymen	die autonyme	das autonyme	die autonymen
mixed declension (with indefinite article)	nominative	ein autonymer	eine autonyme	ein autonymes	(keine) autonymen
	genitive	eines autonymen	einer autonymen	eines autonymen	(keiner) autonymen
	dative	einem autonymen	einer autonymen	einem autonymen	(keinen) autonymen
	accusative	einen autonymen	eine autonyme	ein autonymes	(keine) autonymen

Further reading

• “autonym” in Duden online