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Definition of namesake

namesake

/ˈneɪm.seɪk/
name · sake
Plural:namesakes
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namesake Lexical Profile

namesake Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A person or thing that has the same name as another, especially one named after or in honor of another person or entity.

Example

"The young boy was proud to be the namesake of his late grandfather, a respected community leader."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for namesake

Word Nuance & Usage

While 'namesake' originally referred to the person or thing named after someone else, in modern usage it is routinely used in both directions to refer either to the bearer of a name or to the original person or entity from which the name was taken.

• Nearby Words

namelessness
namely
nameplate
namesake
nametag
nametape
namib sand snake

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the mid-17th century as a contraction of the phrase 'for one's name's sake', referring to someone named out of regard for another person.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Namesake. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/namesake
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