nonname

Nonname is a term used in linguistics and philosophy of language to describe expressions that do not function as proper names for a specific, fixed individual. Unlike names, which are typically employed to refer to a particular person, place, or thing in a given discourse, nonnames cover a broad range of expressions that convey reference without identifying a single settled referent. The label is not universally standardized across theories, but is used descriptively to group certain reference mechanisms under one category.

In semantic analyses, nonnames often include descriptive phrases, definite descriptions, or role-based references. They can refer to entities through description rather than by a unique label, or they may depend on context to determine their reference. For example, phrases like “the current president,” “the author of this book,” or “the winner of the lottery” illustrate nonname-like references that do not, by themselves, pick out a stable, universally agreed-upon name. In some cases, nonnames point to fictional or hypothetical entities, or to referents that may not exist at all (as in “the king of France” in cases where no such monarch exists).

The concept is often used to illuminate how language handles reference when a fixed name is unavailable, unknown, or inappropriate. Critics note that “nonname” can be an informal or heuristic label rather than a precise technical category in many theories, and its scope can vary by linguistic framework. See also reference, definite description, proper name, empty name.