Alec
Alec (name) means a short form of the name Alexander. Example: “Friends have always called him Alec, never Alexander.”
How to Use Alec
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost commonly a nickname for Alexander; the fish/sauce sense is rare and old-fashioned.
Word Forms
alecs plural
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Friends have always called him _____, never Alexander.
Etymology
A clipped form of "Alexander."
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “Alec” mean?
The word “Alec” means a short form of the name Alexander. In plain terms, most commonly a nickname for Alexander; the fish/sauce sense is rare and old-fashioned.
How do you pronounce “Alec”?
“Alec” is pronounced A-lihk (/ˈælɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “Alec” in a sentence?
Here is “Alec” used in a sentence: “Friends have always called him Alec, never Alexander.”
What part of speech is “Alec”?
Depending on how it is used, “Alec” can be a name and a noun.
Is “Alec” a common word?
“Alec” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Alec” have?
“Alec” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a short form of the name Alexander.
Is "Alec" always a short form of "Alexander"?
"Alec" is most commonly used as a short form of "Alexander," but it can also stand as an independent given name. Context usually makes clear whether it is a nickname or a person's full registered name.
What does "an alec" mean when it refers to fish?
As a noun, an "alec" is a small pickled or dried fish, such as an anchovy, or a sauce made from it. This sense is historical and rarely used in modern English outside specialist or archaic contexts.
Is the phrase "smart alec" related to the name Alec?
The phrase "smart alec," meaning someone who is annoyingly overconfident or shows off their knowledge, uses "alec" as a personal name rather than the fish sense. It is a fixed idiom and does not imply any connection to the fish or sauce meaning of the word.
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