anonyme

Anonyme is a French adjective and noun meaning anonymous or nameless. It designates a person or thing whose identity is unknown or deliberately concealed. As a noun it can refer to a nameless individual, though more common constructions include phrases like “auteur anonyme” or “témoin anonyme.”

Etymology traces the word to Latin anonymus, from Greek anōnymos, formed from a- (without) and onoma (name). The sense of lacking a name or identified attribution has shaped its use across literature, journalism, and everyday language.

In literature and media, anonyme is used to indicate authorship or sources that are intentionally undisclosed. A text may be published as an anonymous work, or sources quoted in a report may be described as anonymous. The term allows readers to focus on ideas rather than the identity of the contributor, while sometimes raising questions about credibility and accountability.

In privacy, computing, and data protection, anonymity refers to the state of concealing personally identifying information. Anonymisation or anonymization is the process of removing or masking identifiers in data sets to prevent re-identification. In communications and networks, anonymity networks and tools aim to protect user identity and location, though they also intersect with legal and security considerations.

Legal and ethical aspects of anonymity include balancing privacy rights with accountability. Anonymity can shield whistleblowers and private individuals but may complicate enforcement of laws or verification of claims. Societal norms and regulations increasingly address when and how anonymous expressions are appropriate or restricted.

See also: anonymity, anonymous, pseudonym.