English dictionary · noun

acronym

An abbreviation formed by the initial letters of other words.

Meaning and definitions

1. An abbreviation formed by the initial letters of other words.
2. Generally such abbreviations, including those pronounced as individual letters (initialisms such as "TNT").
3. Exclusively such abbreviations when pronounced as a word (as "laser" or "NATO").

Connected roots

• -onym

  name

Explore the word family

These words share a recorded root connection. A shared root is a learning clue; it does not establish every step in a word’s history.

• anonymous

  of unknown name or authorship

• synonym

  a word that means exactly or nearly the same as another

• pseudonym

  A fictitious name (more literally, a false name), as those used by writers and movie stars.

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