English Explanatory Dictionary

what's in a name

English dictionary entry

Meanings

phrase
  1. Used to argue that something's name is arbitrary and does not give any information as to its qualities; the names of things do not affect what they really are.

Word forms

what's in a name

Etymology

Coined by William Shakespeare in 1597 in "Romeo and Juliet," act 2, scene 2: : What's in a name? That which we call a rose, : By any other name would smell as sweet.

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