noun
namesake
NAYM-sayk
Namesake (noun) means a person or thing named after someone or something else, or the person that gave their name. Example: “The ship was a namesake of its famous predecessor.”
noun
1
A person or thing named after someone or something else, or the person that gave their name.
"It is the only citation from 1902, and was clearly added to the manuscript at a late stage, being only one of two examples of the dictionary’s namesake actually discovered by Crooke."
— James Lambert, Setting the Record Straight: An In-depth Examination of Hobson-Jobson (2018)
"Bill Sr's namesake, Bill Jr, is 30 years younger."
"The ship was a namesake of its famous predecessor."
"Little James is the namesake of his late grandfather."
"Bill Jr's namesake, Bill Sr, is 30 years older."
How to use namesake
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone or something that shares a name with, or was named in honour of, someone else.
Common mistake
It can point in either direction — the person named after someone, or the original person the name comes from.
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Word forms
- Plural
- namesakes
- Third person singular
- namesakes
- Past tense
- namesaked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The ship was a _____ of its famous predecessor.
Etymology
From the 17th-century phrase "for one's name's sake," used in early Bible translations, ultimately from a Hebrew idiom about protecting someone's reputation.
Class of 1600
namesake joined the language around 1600.
See the full Class of 1600 →
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for namesake
See all rhymes for namesake →Frequently asked questions
What does “namesake” mean?
The word “namesake” means a person or thing named after someone or something else, or the person that gave their name. In plain terms, someone or something that shares a name with, or was named in honour of, someone else.
How do you pronounce “namesake”?
“Namesake” is pronounced NAYM-sayk (/ˈneɪmseɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “namesake” in a sentence?
Here is “namesake” used in a sentence: “The ship was a namesake of its famous predecessor.”
What part of speech is “namesake”?
“Namesake” is a noun.
Where does the word “namesake” come from?
The word “namesake” dates back to around 1600 and comes from Hebrew. From the 17th-century phrase "for one's name's sake," used in early Bible translations, ultimately from a Hebrew idiom about protecting someone's reputation.
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