noun
cognomen
Cognomen (noun) means an extra name given to an Ancient Roman, added to their first and family names, often to show which clan they belonged to.
noun
1
An extra name given to an Ancient Roman, added to their first and family names, often to show which clan they belonged to.
"Julius Caesar's actual name was Gaius Iulius Caesar. Gaius was his praenomen or forename, Iulius his nomen or surname, and Caesar his cognomen, denoting which part of the Iulius family he belonged to."
"Roman tradition suggests that he might also have had the cognomen Octavian to indicate his biological family."
— David Potter (2007)
2
A nickname, used in the same way as the extra names ancient Romans had.
3
A family name, used in the same way as a surname.
"What's in a name? Well, to the Dragons, it would seem rather a lot, as they've tonight committed their cash to personalised products and to the man with the most famous cognomen in confectionery. I'll leave you to look that one up."
— Dragons' Den, spoken by Evan Davis (2018)
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like cognomen.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Etymology
Came from Latin cognōmen, formed from con- (“with”) and nōmen (“name; family name”).
Related words
Rhymes for cognomen
See all rhymes for cognomen →Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of cognomen?
"cognomen" (noun) means an extra name given to an Ancient Roman, added to their first and family names, often to show which clan they belonged to.
What is another word for cognomen?
Other words for "cognomen" include nickname, moniker, soubriquet, sobriquet, surname, byname.
What are the different meanings of cognomen?
"cognomen" has 3 main meanings: 1. An extra name given to an Ancient Roman, added to their first and family names, often to show which clan they belonged to; 2. A nickname, used in the same way as the extra names ancient Romans had; 3. A family name, used in the same way as a surname.
