Make Your Point > Archived Issues > NOM DE GUERRE
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connect this word to others:
You're familiar with a nom de plume (a pen name) and a nom de théâtre (a stage name), but how about a nom de guerre?
Let's consider one. Remember in The Princess Bride when Westley becomes the notorious Dread Pirate Roberts, so he can seize ships and amass his fortune?
"The Dread Pirate Roberts" was Westley's nom de guerre. His war name.
You can see how nom de guerre is closely related to the word guerrilla, literally "(fighter in) a little war," as well as lots of words involving names and words, like name itself, noun, nominal, nominate, nomenclature, ___nomer ("a name that sends the wrong message"), and _noma____etic ("involving words that actually sound like what they mean").
(To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.)
make your point with...
"NOM DE GUERRE"
This term is French for "war name."
Someone's nom de guerre is the fake name they use when they take part in a war or a competition (or in any other specific situation that involves risk or struggle).
Pronunciation:
NOM duh GAIR
Part of speech:
Noun, the countable kind: "it's his nom de guerre," "she needs a new nom de guerre."
Other forms:
Just the plural, which is rare: "noms de guerre."
How to use it:
This term is rare but easily understood.
We'll see it used quite seriously in discussions of warfare. "He spoke under his nom de guerre, fearing retaliation." "He tweets under a nom de guerre, for the protection of his people."
But you can also use this term to be playful and to exaggerate. It adds a little flair to your description of people and the names they assume, helping you emphasize how those people seem to treat what they're doing as if it were war: competing in business or athletics; striving in the publishing or entertainment industry; struggling to succeed in romance, diplomacy, video gaming, etc.
You might simply refer to a name, a nickname, or a title as a nom de guerre.
Or, say that someone takes a nom de guerre, goes by a nom de guerre, is known by his or her nom de guerre, does something under a certain nom de guerre, etc.
And, although it's usually people who use noms de guerre, you can also slap this term onto the names, labels, and titles of things and places, if you're going for humor: "You may know these sugar-free gummy bears by their nom de guerre, Intestinal Napalm."
Finally, if you prefer, you can keep this term in italics to emphasize its foreignness: "She operates under a nom de guerre." But it's not needed; the term has been around in English since 1652.
examples:
"His name was T’Challa and he was the superpowered monarch of hidden Wakanda, an African nation made technologically advanced thanks to the presence of a rare metal called vibranium. He was best known by his nom de guerre: Black Panther."
— Abraham Riesman, Vulture, 16 February 2018
"Swiftly and gaily did the slim [ship] cleave through the glassy sea. Its hue was a dark crimson, with one black stripe--its nom de guerre, the Spitfire."
— A. Bushman, A Love Story, Volume I, 1841
has this page helped you understand "nom de guerre"?
study it:
Explain the meaning of "nom de guerre" without saying "alias" or "fighting name."
try it out:
Think of something that has a new, silly label, as if desperate to sound fierce on some metaphorical battlefield.
Fill in the blanks: "(Something)—going by its more current nom de guerre, _____— is _____."
Example 1: "Setting—going by its more current nom de guerre, baking— is supposed to give your makeup a smoother finish."
Example 2: "Blankets—going by their more current nom de guerre, throws—are one of this winter's most versatile home accessories." — Vogue, December 1995
before you review, play:
Spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—let your working memory empty out first.
Our game this month: Anagrams!
Rearrange the letters in the given word to form a word we've studied before. Try to recall its meaning, too.
For example, if I give you DYED, you give me EDDY. If I give you THREAD, you give me DEARTH. And if I give you COTERIES, you give me ESOTERIC.
Try this one today: MITERED.
Give yourself 5 points if you can figure out the word without clues. To reveal the clues, hover over the blue text below.
Give yourself 4 points if you figure it out after peeking at the part of speech: Noun.
Give yourself 3 points if you figure it out after peeking at the definition: a fault or a flaw: some quality that makes something less desirable, less valuable, or less useful.
Give yourself 2 points if you figure it out after peeking at the first letter: D.
Give yourself 1 point if you figure it out after peeking at the first two letters: DE.
And if you'd like to reveal or review the word, click here.
review this word:
1. A near opposite of NOM DE GUERRE is
A. PET NAME, e.g. "Sweetheart."
B. CODE NAME, e.g. "Individual #1."
C. HERO NAME, e.g. "The Yellow Dart."
2. Katniss's nom de guerre is _____, created to _____.
A. lamb stew .. blend artistry with comfort food
B. the Mockingjay .. inspire unity among the rebels fighting the Capitol
C. between Peeta and Gale .. add character depth while riveting female teen readers
a final word:
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love.
I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words.
From my blog:
36 ways to study words.
Why we forget words, & how to remember them.
How to use sophisticated words without being awkward.
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Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.
You're familiar with a nom de plume (a pen name) and a nom de théâtre (a stage name), but how about a nom de guerre?
"NOM DE GUERRE" This term is French for "war name."
"His name was T’Challa and he was the superpowered monarch of hidden Wakanda, an African nation made technologically advanced thanks to the presence of a rare metal called vibranium. He was best known by his nom de guerre: Black Panther."
Explain the meaning of "nom de guerre" without saying "alias" or "fighting name."
Think of something that has a new, silly label, as if desperate to sound fierce on some metaphorical battlefield.
Spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—let your working memory empty out first.
1. A near opposite of NOM DE GUERRE is
|