Acronyms: meaning, definitions and examples
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acronyms
[ ˈækrənɪm ]
abbreviation
An acronym is a word formed from the initial letters of a phrase or name, typically pronounced as a single word.
Synonyms
abbreviation, acrostic, initialism.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| acronyms |
When you shorten a phrase by using the first letters of each word to create a new word that can be pronounced.
|
| initialism |
When you shorten a phrase by using the first letters of each word, but the resulting letters are pronounced individually, not as a new word.
|
| abbreviation |
Used when you shorten a word or phrase by omitting some letters, and this does not necessarily form a new pronounceable word.
|
| acrostic |
When you create a poem or a piece of writing where the first letters of each line spell out a word or message.
|
Examples of usage
- NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
- FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out)
- UNICEF (United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund)
Translations
Translations of the word "acronyms" in other languages:
🇵🇹 acrônimos
🇮🇳 संक्षिप्ताक्षर
🇩🇪 Akronyme
🇮🇩 akronim
🇺🇦 акроніми
🇵🇱 akronimy
🇯🇵 頭字語 (とうじご)
🇫🇷 acronymes
🇪🇸 acrónimos
🇹🇷 kısaltmalar
🇰🇷 두문자어
🇸🇦 اختصارات
🇨🇿 akronymy
🇸🇰 akronymy
🇨🇳 首字母缩略词
🇸🇮 akronimi
🇮🇸 skammstafanir
🇰🇿 қысқартулар
🇬🇪 აკრონიმები
🇦🇿 akronimlər
🇲🇽 acrónimos
Etymology
The word 'acronym' originated in the mid-20th century and is derived from the Greek words 'akron' (end) and 'onuma' (name). Acronyms have become a common form of abbreviation in modern language, particularly in fields such as technology, government, and business.