Dictionary

alter ego en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈɔːl.təɹ iːɡəʊ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (US) audio
• /ˈɔl.tɚ iɡoʊ/ (General-American)

Etymology

From Latin alter ego (literally “other me”).

Meanings

1. An individual's alternate personality or persona; another self.
   • […] a belief in the possibility of a man possessing an alter ego in the form of some animal such as a crocodile or a hippopotamus. It is believed that such a person's life is bound up with that of the animal to such an extent that, whatever affects the one produces a corresponding impression upon the other, and that if one dies the other must speedily do so too. 1897, Mary H. Kingsley, Travels in West Africa, page 538:
   • As one commentator has remarked, all the confusing old three-syllable names that used to index Chinese politics can now be forgotten — the names and their bearers have ceased to be of the slightest importance. In their place stands one man — a small, frail, volatile but tremendously energetic man — who oddly enough has become the alter ego of that powerful, sprawling, sleepy giant that is China. 1938, Robert Berkov, “China's Chiang”, in Strong Man of China: The Story of Chiang Kai-shek, Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, page 1:
   • Clark Kent's coworkers finally discovered his alter ego, Superman.
   • Ruffalo's turn as Bruce Banner and his angry green alter-ego has been widely praised. Avengers Assemble (titled The Avengers outside the UK) is on course to be one of the year's biggest films and has received strong reviews. 2012 May 1, Ben Child, “Mark Ruffalo gets green light to play Hulk in six-movie deal”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 11 Feb 2021:
2. A very close and intimate friend.
   • GWM, 5'10", 175, 40, non-smoker, MCC-er. Good build. Int. in classical music, books, travel. Seeks alter ego with own peace for honest relationship. 1974 April 13, “Sex Isn't Everything! (personal advertisement)”, in Gay Community News, page 10:
3. A corporation used by a person to conduct personal business in an attempt to shield himself or herself from personal liability, and which a court may penetrate by "piercing the corporate veil" to impose liability on the person when they commit fraud or injustice.

Forms

Deriveds

alteregoism · alter

Relateds

alteregoism · double life · alter-egotism

Synonyms

alter idem

Translations (35)

bg а́лтер е́го (alternate personality or persona) · sh alter ego (alternate personality or persona) · la alter ego (alternate personality or persona) · is annað sjálf (alternate personality or persona) · sv alter ego (alternate personality or persona) · sh drugo ja (alternate personality or persona) · de anderes Ich (alternate personality or persona) · es álter ego (alternate personality or persona) · fi sydänystävä (very close and intimate friend) · cy hunan arall (alternate personality or persona) · ko 다른 자아 (alternate personality or persona) · tl haliako (alternate personality or persona) · cmn 另一個我 /另一个我 (alternate personality or persona) · ko 분신 (alternate personality or persona) · de Alter Ego (alternate personality or persona) · ru а́льтер э́го (alternate personality or persona) · fr un autre moi-même (alternate personality or persona) · ja 分身 (alternate personality or persona) · sh друго ја (alternate personality or persona) · fr alter ego (alternate personality or persona) · pl alter ego (alternate personality or persona) · pt outro eu (alternate personality or persona) · fi alter ego (alternate personality or persona) · fi toinen minä (alternate personality or persona) · hu alteregó (alternate personality or persona) · sh алтер его (alternate personality or persona) · pt alter ego (alternate personality or persona) · ja アルター・エゴ (alternate personality or persona) · cmn 分身 (alternate personality or persona) · no alter ego (alternate personality or persona) · pl drugie ja (alternate personality or persona) · es alter ego (alternate personality or persona) · es otro yo (alternate personality or persona) · ru друго́е я (alternate personality or persona) · es alterego (alternate personality or persona)

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