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acronym

noun

/ˈakrənɪm/

IPA:

Dictionary definition of acronym

An abbreviation formed from the initial letters of a phrase and pronounced as a word.
"NASA is an acronym for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration."

Detailed meaning of acronym

An "acronym" is a word formed from the initial letters of a phrase or a word, such as NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome), and NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization). The new word formed from the initial letters is usually pronounced as a single word, as in "nasa" and "aids". Acronyms are commonly used in official documents, technical writing, and informal communication as a way to shorten a phrase or sentence and make it easier to remember.

An acronym can also be considered a type of initialism, which is a word formed from the initial letters of a phrase or a word, such as FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) and AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) but it is pronounced letter by letter.

Acronyms are widely used in different fields such as medicine, science, technology, military, politics, and more. They can be found in formal and informal communication and can be used as a shorthand way of referring to a specific term or phrase. They are also widely used in the digital age, with many online chats, social media and text messaging being filled with them.

Example sentences containing acronym

1. NASA, which stands for National Aeronautics and Space Administration, is a well-known acronym.
2. The IT department uses acronyms like CPU and RAM to refer to computer components.
3. SCUBA is an acronym for Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus.
4. The military is filled with acronyms such as NATO, SWAT, and SEAL.
5. The acronym ASAP is commonly used to indicate urgency.
6. The healthcare industry is filled with acronyms like MRI, EKG, and ICU.

History and etymology of acronym

The noun 'acronym' finds its etymological roots in both Greek and Latin. It combines two key elements: 'acro,' derived from the Greek 'akros,' meaning 'top' or 'tip,' and 'onym,' stemming from the Greek 'onoma,' which translates to 'name.' This combination highlights the process of creating an abbreviation by taking the initial letters (often the 'top' or 'tip' letters) of a phrase and forming a new word or name from them. The term 'acronym' has evolved to represent such linguistic constructs, where an abbreviation is pronounced as a word rather than as individual letters. This etymology effectively captures the essence of acronyms, emphasizing their role as compact and often easily pronounceable representations of longer phrases or names.

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Further usage examples of acronym

1. The teacher explained the meaning of the acronym DNA, which stands for deoxyribonucleic acid.
2. The company's name is actually an acronym formed from the initials of its founders' last names.
3. The acronym LGBT represents the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community.
4. The organization uses the acronym UNICEF to represent the United Nations Children's Fund.
5. The new employee struggled to understand the acronyms used in the company's internal communications.
6. The scientist presented a complex theory using an acronym to simplify the explanation.
7. The acronym FAQ stands for Frequently Asked Questions.
8. The military briefing was filled with acronyms that confused the civilian audience.
9. The organization created an acronym to promote their campaign for environmental sustainability.
10. The acronym CEO represents the title of Chief Executive Officer in a company.
11. The IT specialist deciphered the acronym LAN as Local Area Network.
12. The acronym PTSD represents Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
13. The conference provided a glossary of acronyms to help attendees understand the presentations.
14. The team used an acronym to remember the steps of their project management process.