hypocorism
/haɪˈpɑkərɪzəm/
noun
- A nickname or pet name that shows affection, often a shortened or altered form of a name.
- The teacher explained that 'Mike' is a hypocorism for 'Michael'.
- In many families, hypocorisms like 'Sweetie' or 'Buddy' are used every day.
- Calling someone 'Lizzy' instead of Elizabeth is a common hypocorism.
Synonyms