Definition

Noun: 1. A name used for business or professional purposes that is not the individual's or entity's legal, registered name. This is a formal term, often used in legal and commercial contexts, to refer to an alias under which business is conducted.

Usage

This term is primarily used in formal writing, legal documents, and business contexts to denote a name used for trade that differs from the official registered name. * A sole proprietor might operate under a fictitious name. * The company filed a certificate for its fictitious name, "Sunshine Bakery," with the county clerk. * When contracting, the legal entity must be identified, not just its fictitious name.

Examples

• "The law firm operates under the fictitious name 'Legal Eagles Associates.'"
• "Before opening the shop, she had to register her fictitious name, 'The Curious Cat Bookstore.'"
• "The contract is between the corporation and the client, not its fictitious name."

Advanced Usage

• "Doing Business As (DBA)": This is a common legal phrase synonymous with "fictitious name." A DBA filing is the official registration of a fictitious name.
  • The business is registered as "Smith Enterprises, Inc.," doing business as "Metro Solutions."
• "Trade Name": Another closely related term, often used interchangeably with "fictitious name" in commercial contexts.
  • The well-known trade name was more valuable than the company's legal corporate name.

Variants and Related Words

• Assumed Name: A synonym for fictitious name, emphasizing that the name is "taken on" or adopted.
• Doing Business As (DBA): The standard legal designation for a fictitious name.
• Trade Name: A name used to identify a commercial product or business in the marketplace.
• Alias: A more general term for any assumed name, not limited to business contexts.

Synonyms

• Assumed name
• Trade name
• Doing Business As (DBA)
• Business name (in this specific context)

Related Phrases

• "To operate under a fictitious name": To conduct business using a name that is not one's legal name.
  • The artisan operates under the fictitious name "Riverstone Pottery."
• "To file/register a fictitious name": To complete the official legal process of declaring a business alias.
  • You must file a fictitious name statement with the state.

Noun

1. (law) a name under which a corporation conducts business that is not the legal name of the corporation as shown in its articles of incorporation