Acronym - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
An acronym is a word formed from the initial letters of a phrase, such as NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration). It simplifies long names into memorable terms.
Definition:
A word formed from the initial letters of a multi-word name or phrase.
Synonyms:
abbreviation, initialism, shorthand
Part of Speech:
noun
Antonyms:
full form, expansion
Common Collocations:
common acronym, military acronym, medical acronym, form an acronym, use an acronym
Derivatives:
acronymic, acronymically
Usage Tips:
Capitalize all letters in an acronym unless it's a common word (e.g., "laser").
Common Phrases:
ASAP (as soon as possible), LOL (laugh out loud), NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
Etymology:
From Greek "akron" (end) + "onyma" (name), meaning a name formed from ends of words.
Examples:
- 1. "NATO" is a well-known acronym for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
- 2. Teachers often explain how to create an acronym from a long phrase.
- 3. "Scuba" started as an acronym but is now a standard word.
- 4. Avoid overusing acronyms if your audience may not understand them.