eponym

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈɛpəˌnɪm/US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(epə nim)


WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
ep•o•nym  (epə nim),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. a person, real or imaginary, from whom something, as a tribe, nation, or place, takes or is said to take its name:Brut, the supposed grandson of Aeneas, is the eponym of the Britons.
  2. a word based on or derived from a person's name.
  3. Ancient Historyany ancient official whose name was used to designate his year of office.
  • back formation from eponymous 1840–50
ep′o•nymic, adj. 

eponym, +n. 
  1. a word based on or derived from a person's name.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
eponym /ˈɛpəˌnɪm/ n
  1. a name, esp a place name, derived from the name of a real or mythical person, as for example Constantinople from Constantine I
  2. the name of the person from which such a name is derived
Etymology: 19th Century: from Greek epōnumos giving a significant name

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