Eponymous

Eponymous

əˈpänəməs

Adjective

  • (Of a person) Giving their name to something.
  • (Of a thing) Named after a particular person.

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Example Sentences

“The artist’s eponymous album bore his name in bold red letters on the cover.”

“Her eponymous debut album was a hit, and now everyone knows her name.” 

“Look around the grocery store at the eponymous food brands — Kraft, Kellogg’s, and Campbell’s, for example.” 

Word Origin

Greek, mid-19th century

Why this word?

“Synonymous,” “anonymous,” “pseudonymous,” “eponymous” — they all have to do with names for things because they come from the Greek word “onyma,” meaning “name.” “Eponymous,” in particular, has to do with the name of a person, but in two different usages. If “eponymous” is describing a person, it references giving their name to something — for example, “The eponymous title character of the novel was introduced quickly.” In this case we know the book is named after that person. If “eponymous” is describing a thing, that thing is named after a particular person — for example, “The biography covers the years before the launch of his eponymous company.” This tells us the person’s company is named after him. 

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