alter ego
noun
The New York Times
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In Latin, alter ego literally means "second I". An alter ego can be thought of as a person's clone or second self. A professional alter ego might be a trusted aide who knows exactly what the boss wants done. A personal alter ego might be a close friend who is almost like a twin. Alter ego can also refer to the second, hidden side of one's own self. In Robert Louis Stevenson's classic The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Dr. Jekyll is a good-hearted, honorable man; but after taking a potion, his alter ego, the loathsome and diabolical Mr. Hyde, takes over his personality.
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Examples of alter ego in a Sentence
Victoria Edel, People.com, 28 Oct. 2024
The horny cast gets to let off some steam at Devin’s birthday party, where Ryan and Derek dress up as drag alter egos Tarje and Cherry and jiggle their wares.
—Emma Sharpe, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2024
In it, Boulard plays her past alter ego, fashion journalist Mademoiselle Agnès.
—Jennifer Weil, WWD, 20 Sep. 2024
A bit rich, considering Santos himself has a Latina alter ego, Kitara Ravache, but that’s neither here nor there.
—Jp Brammer, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Alter ego.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alter%20ego. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
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alter ego
noun
Legal Definition
alter ego
noun
J. J. White and R. S. Summers Note: The concept of a legal alter ego is used primarily to hold the controlling parties of a corporation personally liable instead of limiting liability to the corporate entity.
Latin, literally, second I
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