Orthonyms

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Words considered as correct or standard forms within a particular language or context, typically used to distinguish acceptable terms from variants or errors
2. Linguistic units recognized as proper or conventional spellings or forms, often contrasted with synonyms or incorrect alternatives
3. Terms that represent accepted or canonical versions of words in a language, serving as a benchmark for correctness or normativity

Etymology: "Orthonyms" is the plural of "orthonym," a noun meaning the correct standard form of a name or term. The word is built from "ortho-," from Greek "orthos" meaning "straight" or "correct," and "-onym," from Greek "onyma" meaning "name." Put together, the parts give a sense of the proper or accepted name for something, as opposed to a variant or nickname. The prefix "ortho-" appears in many scientific and technical English terms, such as "orthodox" (correct belief) and "orthography" (correct spelling), which share the same Greek root. The "-onym" element is likewise found in words for names of different kinds, such as "synonym" (a name with the same meaning) and "pseudonym" (a false name). Because "orthonym" follows this pattern, its meaning is transparent from its parts.

Synonyms: true names, proper names, real names

Antonyms: pseudonyms, aliases, nicknames, pen names