Antonomasia

What is Antonomasia?

• Antonomasia is a literary term in

which a descriptive phrase replaces
a person’s name. Antonomasia can
range from lighthearted nicknames
to epic names.
• The phrase antonomasia is derived
from the Greek phrase
antonomazein meaning “to name
differently.”
 Examples of Antonomasia
• Oftentimes, antonomasia is used to call attention to a
certain characteristic.

Imagine that you have a friend who is a fantastic chef, and

you want to say hello.

• Normal sentence: “Oh, look! Sam’s arrived!”

• Sentence with Antonomasia: “Oh, look! The great chef

has arrived!”

Here, the use of antonomasia allows you to greet your

friend with a nickname which also reveals something about
his character: he’s a great chef.
 The importance of using Antonomasia
• Uses for antonomasia vary
slightly depending on the time Here are a few examples of antonomasia
period. In the past, antonomasia in the past:
would be used to designate class • Aristotle as “The Philosopher”
members, as oftentimes • Winston Churchill as “The Great
people’s names were linked to Commoner”
their professions. • William Shakespeare as “The Bard”
• Antonomasia was also used in
the past to give positive names
to strong warriors and negative
names to weak or nasty people.
The importance of using Antonomasia
• Antonomasia can provide someone with a
strong epithet which further celebrates and
memorializes their great deeds. In
advertising and pop culture, such wording
can also further celebrate the famous, such
as The Beatles as “The Fab Four.”

• In this way, the past is similar to the

present, as we tend to use antonomasia
purely for enjoyment and fun with
nicknames.
Examples of Antonomasia in Literature
• One instance of antonomasia is the treatment of Voldemort in
J.K.Rowling’s Harry Potter Series.
• Rather than calling the dangerous man by name, all must call him
“You-Know-Who” or “He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.” This usage
of antonomasia emphasizes just how dangerous the man is, as
most wizards and witches are too afraid to say his actual name
aloud.
 • Another example of
antonomasia is in Mary
• “I beheld the wretch—the miserable Shelley’s Victor
monster whom I had created” Frankenstein’s inability to
give the monster a true
• “the approach of the demoniacal name is apparent in his
corpse to which I had so miserably constant use of
given life” antonomasia.
• “Devil, do you dare approach me?”
• Frankenstein’s creation is
• “Begone, vile insect!” never given a name, and
instead is given countless
instances of antonomasia
which show Frankenstein’s
inability to accept his
creation.
Antonomasia provides characters with more exciting names and
nicknames which reflect certain characteristics, feats, or professions.
Although we witness serious and royal antonomasia less often these
days, we still use antonomasia in the form of nicknames on a daily basis.