secret identity
Concealed true persona
A secret identity is an alternate persona concealed from public knowledge, typically used by superheroes, spies, or criminals.
Superman's secret identity is Clark Kent; Batman's is Bruce Wayne.
The concept implies a double life where one's true activities or nature remain hidden: She maintained a secret identity as an informant for years.
Face-worn concealment
- costumeClothing for portrayal
- aliasAdopted false name
- pseudonymFictitious professional name
- incognitoWith identity concealed
camouflage · wig · prosthetics · makeup · voice changer · assumed name · cover · impersonation
Secretly engaged in espionage
- espionageCovert intelligence gathering
- covertIntentionally concealed
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- infiltrationCovert entry into organization
sleeper agent · mole · double agent · handler · cover story · legend · safe house · dead drop
- Bruce WayneGotham's cowled crimefighter's identity
- Spider-ManArachnid-themed masked hero
- BatmanGotham's masked vigilante
- SupermanMetropolis's flying defender
Peter Parker · Tony Stark · Steve Rogers · Barry Allen · Natasha Romanoff · Matt Murdock · Wanda Maximoff · T'Challa
Freedom from observation
- pseudonymFictitious professional name
- pen nameAuthor's assumed identity
- nom de plumeAuthor's false identity
- ghostwriterUncredited hired author
anonymous · hidden · unknown · untraceable · screen name · handle · avatar · burner phone
Revealing what's hidden
- exposedOut in open
- discoveredFound something previously unknown
- outedRevealed someone's hidden truth
- betrayedViolated someone's trust
confrontation · dramatic reveal · cliffhanger · plot twist · confession · recognition · blown cover · compromised
mask
Face-worn concealment
incognito · camouflage · wig · prosthetics · makeup · voice changer · assumed name · cover · impersonation · transformation
undercover
Secretly engaged in espionage
- espionageCovert intelligence gathering
- covertIntentionally concealed
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
infiltration · sleeper agent · mole · double agent · handler · cover story · legend · safe house · dead drop · extraction
Clark Kent
- Bruce WayneGotham's cowled crimefighter's identity
- Spider-ManArachnid-themed masked hero
- BatmanGotham's masked vigilante
Peter Parker · Tony Stark · Steve Rogers · Barry Allen · Natasha Romanoff · Matt Murdock · Wanda Maximoff · T'Challa · Superman · Wonder Woman
privacy
Freedom from observation
- pseudonymFictitious professional name
- pen nameAuthor's assumed identity
- nom de plumeAuthor's false identity
ghostwriter · anonymous · hidden · unknown · untraceable · screen name · handle · avatar · burner phone · witness protection
unmasking
Revealing what's hidden
- exposedOut in open
- discoveredFound something previously unknown
- outedRevealed someone's hidden truth
betrayed · confrontation · dramatic reveal · cliffhanger · plot twist · confession · recognition · blown cover · compromised · vulnerability
- SupermanSuperman, Clark Kent, Krypton, Kal-El, Lois Lane
- comic tropesorigin story, superpowers, sidekick, supervillain, cape
- Tropeschosen one, hero's journey, red herring, deus ex machina, damsel in distress
- Unknown Identitiesstrangers, unknowns, Jane Doe, John Doe, anonymous
- Dualityduality, dual nature, two sides, yin and yang, yin-yang
- espionagespy, spies, double agent, double agents, spying
secret identityopen book
One easily understood
true self · authentic self · what you see is what you get · face value
secret identitypublic figure
Prominent, widely recognized person
household name · celebrity · famous face · known quantity · man of the people
secret, identity, secretive, secrets, secrete, secretiveness, secretively, secreting, secretory