retronym

[ re-truh-nim ]

noun
  1. a term coined in modification of an original term that was used alone (as acoustic guitar instead of guitar) to distinguish it from a term referring to a later development (as electric guitar). Other examples of retronyms are snail mail and analog watch.

Origin of retronym

1
1980, Americanism;retro- + (-o)nym; coined by Frank Mankiewicz, U.S. journalist

Words Nearby retronym

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024