acronym

[ ak-ruh-nim ]

noun

1. a word formed from the initial letters or groups of letters of words in a set phrase or series of words and pronounced as a separate word, as Wac from Women's Army Corps, OPEC from Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, or loran from long-range navigation.
2. initialism ( def 1 ).
3. an acrostic.

verb (used with object)

1. to make an acronym of:

   The committee's name has been acronymed MIKE.

acronym

/ ˈækrənɪm; əˈkrɒnɪməs /

noun

1. a pronounceable name made up of a series of initial letters or parts of words; for example, UNESCO for the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization

acronym

1. A word formed by combining the beginning letters of a name or phrase , as in WASP for w hite A nglo- S axon P rotestant, or by combining the initial syllables of a series of words, as in radar, which stands for ra dio de tecting a nd r anging.

Grammar Note

See abbreviation.

Notes

Acronyms are often less clumsy than the complete expressions they represent and are easier to write and remember.

Derived Forms

• ˌacroˈnymic, adjective

Other Words From

• ac·ro·nym·ic; a·cron·y·mous [uh, -, kron, -, uh, -m, uh, s], adjective
• ac·ro·nym·i·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of acronym¹

First recorded in 1940–45; acr- + -onym

Word History and Origins

Origin of acronym¹

C20: from acro- + -onym

Example Sentences

Swatch described the Pride flag as a "symbol of humanity that speaks for all genders and races", but at the time of the confiscation, the Malaysian government claimed the acronym "LGBTQ" could be found on the watches themselves.

From BBC

Either acronym accurately summarizes the technology, which uses lasers to measure large areas by targeting a surface or object and measuring how long it takes for light to be reflected back.But no one is debating how lidar is helping preserve humanity’s most important treasures from our species’ tendency to destroy our natural environment.

From Salon

Make Russia Great Again may not lend itself to a pronounceable acronym, but it does clearly define Putin’s foreign policy agenda.

From Los Angeles Times

"I even created a not-so-creative acronym: 'LAC - Life After Cass'."

From BBC

Musk and Ramaswamy think that acronym is adorable, since it refers to a beloved internet meme as well as a cryptocurrency in which Musk is heavily invested.

From Salon