Main Entry: ac·ro·nym

Pronunciation: \ˈa-krə-ˌnim\

Function: noun

Etymology: acr- + -onym

Date: 1943

: a word (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 (as FBI) formed from initial letters : initialism

— ac·ro·nym·ic \ˌa-krə-ˈni-mik\ adjective

— ac·ro·nym·i·cal·ly \-mi-k(ə-)lē\ adverb