What Does Eponymous Mean? | Definition & Examples

Eponymous is an adjective used to describe a person or thing after which something is named (such as an inventor, discoverer, creator, or founder). It can also be used to describe the thing itself that has been named after someone or something.

In literary contexts, ‘eponymous’ is often used to describe works that have been named after their protagonist (e.g., Jane Eyre).

A Scribbr Grammar Check can help ensure you use words like ‘eponymous’ correctly in your writing.

Make your writing flawless in 1 upload

Be assured that you'll submit flawless writing. Upload your document to correct all your mistakes.

Other interesting language articles

If you want to know more about commonly confused words, definitions, and differences between US and UK spellings, make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations, examples, and quizzes.

The only proofreading tool specialized in correcting academic writing

The academic proofreading tool has been trained on 1000s of academic texts and by native English editors. Making it the most accurate and reliable proofreading tool for students.

Upload my document

Frequently asked questions

What are some synonyms of ‘eponymous’?

Some words that are synonyms or near synonyms of ‘eponymous‘ include:

• Eponymic
• Nominative
• Self-titled
• Self-named
• Titular

Our Paraphrasing Tool can help you find even more synonyms for ‘eponymous’.

How do I pronounce ‘eponymous’?

“Eponymous” has four syllables. It’s pronounced with an emphasis on the second syllable: [i-pon-uh-muss].

What is an eponym?

‘Eponym’ is a noun used to refer to the person or thing after which something is named (e.g., the inventor Louis Braille). It can also be used to refer to the word or name itself (e.g., the writing system ‘braille’). It’s related to the adjective ‘eponymous‘.