anónimas

Anônimas is a Portuguese term forming the feminine plural of anônima, used as an adjective or, less commonly, as a substantive to indicate identities that are not disclosed. It describes people, letters, sources or other entities whose names are withheld or unknown, with gender concord to feminine nouns.

In practice, anônimas appears most often in phrases such as fontes anônimas, pessoas anônimas or cartas anônimas. The form can also be used as a substantive in some contexts to refer to anonymous women or to a group of women whose identities are not revealed, though this usage is less common than simply using the feminine noun it modifies (pessoas, fontes, etc.).

The concept underlying the term is anonymity, the state of being unnamed or unidentified. In journalism and digital communication, anonymity can protect sources and facilitate candid disclosure, but it also raises questions about credibility and accountability. Online platforms frequently allow posts by usuarios anônimos or content without disclosed authors, highlighting practical aspects of anonymity in modern communication and governance.

Etymology: anônima comes from the combination of a- (without) and onoma (name), via Latin anonymus and Greek origins, with the feminine plural form anônimas agreeing with feminine plural nouns it modifies.

See also: anonimità, anonimato, fontes anônimas, pessoas anônimas.