Backronym
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /ˈbæk.ɹəˌnɪm/ · Part of speech noun
Quick meaning: Backronym is a noun meaning A phrase which assigns a morpheme or word to each letter of a pre-existing acronym.
Meaning
A phrase which assigns a morpheme or word to each letter of a pre-existing acronym.
More Meanings
- (intransitive) To create a backronym.
- A word that is originally not an acronym but is turned into one by devising a full form for it, sometimes as a folk etymology, sometimes as a contrived acronym to name a new organization, proposal, or other entity.
Example Sentences
[T]he phenomenon has been dubbed STEVE, a backronym that matches the name originally given by aurora watchers. (STEVE is short for "Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement.")
Musk's recent posts have included several references to alt-right themes and fascism, experts told Insider. In a recent post, he shared a meme including Pepe the frog and a caption featuring the word "fren" — an apparent misspelling of the word "friend" — a backronym for "far right ethno nationalist."
Word Forms
- backronyms
- bacronym
- backronyming
- backronymming
- backronymed
- backronymmed
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include backronymy, apronym, acronyming, acronymy, pseudo-acronym, macronym.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.