acronym

noun

ac·​ro·​nym ˈa-krə-ˌnim How to pronounce acronym (audio)
: a word (such as NATO, radar, or laser) formed from the initial letter or letters of each of the successive parts or major parts of a compound term
also : an abbreviation (such as FBI) formed from initial letters : initialism
acronymic adjective
acronymically adverb

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between an acronym and an initialism?

Both acronyms and initialisms are made up of the first letter or letters of the words in a phrase. The word acronym typically applies when the resulting thing can be read as a word; for example, radar comes from "radio detection and ranging" and scuba comes from "self-contained underwater breathing apparatus." The word initialism only applies when the resulting thing is read as an abbreviation; for example DIY, which comes from "do it yourself," is pronounced by saying the names of the letters. Note that the word acronym is also sometimes used to mean "initialism."

What is the difference between an acronym and an abbreviation?

An acronym is a kind of abbreviation. Abbreviations can be shortened forms of any kind. For example, appt is an abbreviation of appointment, and ASAP is an abbreviation of as soon as possible. ASAP, however, also qualifies as an acronym because it is made up of the initial letters of the phrase it comes from: as soon as possible.

Is OK an acronym?

OK is technically an acronym. It comes from the phrase "oll korrect," a humorous alteration of "all correct."

Examples of acronym in a Sentence

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is known by the acronym “NATO.”
Recent Examples on the Web Sometimes the investment world creates an acronym or term to describe trends. Jill Schlesinger, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2024 Nor should it be confused with a third YSL, Yves Saint Laurent, which apparently has nothing to do with the case, but is so frequently referenced in rap that the acronym may be no accident. Bill Hochberg, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 Copilot was also helpful in editing documents, often catching acronyms that should be spelled out, punctuation or conciseness, much like a beefed-up spell check. Danielle Abril, Washington Post, 26 Feb. 2024 The other acronym was visible during the follow through of every swing en route to his 19-under-par 265: tattooed on his arm are the letters GSFB, which stand for Gordon Sydney Frederick Bowley, his grandfather who died at age 85 in April. Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2024 Models — identified by acronyms — come in several flavors, mostly according to the length of the model period. Jay Anderson, Discover Magazine, 21 Feb. 2024 The board reasoned that the decision by the worker — identified as Antonio Morales — to display the BLM acronym on the apron was a direct response to racial discrimination complaints within the store and is protected under federal law. Anne D'innocenzio, Quartz, 21 Feb. 2024 Also, in terms of the doctor-patient relationship, there is an acronym that is used by some consisting of stating this as DPR. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024 The acronym was first coined in an influential 2010 paper to describe the wildly unrepresentative populations that many psychology studies have long relied on. Connie Chang, The Atlantic, 15 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'acronym.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

probably borrowed from German Akronym, Akronymon, from akr- acr- + -onym, -onymon -onym

First Known Use

1940, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of acronym was in 1940

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Cite this Entry

“Acronym.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acronym. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

acronym

noun
ac·​ro·​nym ˈak-rə-ˌnim How to pronounce acronym (audio)
: a word (as radar) formed from the beginning letter or letters of each or most of the parts of a compound term

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