Word
acronym
Phoneticsacro·nym
US/ˈækɹənɪm/
UK/ˈækɹənˌɪm/
Definitions
01word from initials
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a word formed from the first letters of each of the words in a phrase.
n. a word formed from the initial letters of a multi-word name or phrase, typically pronounced as a single word rather than a series of letters.
“NASA is a famous acronym for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.”
“The technical distinction between an acronym and an initialism is often ignored in casual conversation, with most speakers using the former to describe any letter-based abbreviation.”
Usage
Usually takes the preposition 'for' when identifying the source phrase.
Pitfall
The acronym of the Federal Bureau of Investigation is FBI.
The abbreviation for the Federal Bureau of Investigation is FBI.
Strictly speaking, acronyms are pronounced as words (like NASA). If you say the letters one by one (like FBI), it is an initialism, though many people use 'acronym' for both.
Synonyms
02syllabic abbreviation
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Technical
n. a word made by joining the first parts of several words together.
n. a word formed from the initial syllables or segments of a phrase, such as 'Benelux' or 'Interpol'.
“The word 'sitcom' is a type of acronym formed from 'situation comedy'.”
“Linguists often categorise syllabic abbreviations like 'codec' or 'modem' as a specific subset of acronyms due to their phonetic integration into the language.”
Teaching tip
This sense is technical; for B2 learners, focus on the 'initial letters' definition first.
Synonyms
03to turn into an acronym
C2 · Proficiency Formal · Technical
v. to turn a long name or phrase into a short acronym.
v. to convert a phrase or name into an acronymic form.
“The committee decided to acronym the project title to make it easier to remember.”
“The tendency to acronymise complex departmental titles has led to a confusing proliferation of shorthand in the civil service.”
Usage
This verb is transitive and takes a direct object.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“DANA is an acronym which stands for Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos .” “DNF stands for "did not finish", and is the acronym used at the Olympics when an athlete starts an event and fails to complete it.” “It looks like an acronym but I can find none listed in various sources I have checked.” Etymology
Borrowed from German Akronym, from Ancient Greek ἄκρον (ákron, “end, peak”) and ὄνυμα (ónuma, “name”), equivalent to acro- (“high; beginning”) + -onym (“name”). Modelled after Homonym and Synonym, first attested in German in the early 1900s and in English in 1940.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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