acronym

1 of 2

noun

ac·​ro·​nym ˈa-krə-ˌnim 

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

acronymic

ˌa-krə-ˈni-mik 

adjective

acronymically

ˌa-krə-ˈni-mi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

acronymic

2 of 2

adjective

ac·​ro·​nym·​ic ¦a-krə-¦ni-mik 

variants or less commonly acronymical

¦a-krə-¦ni-mi-kəl

: marked by the use of acronyms

Their extreme sport is called BASE jumping, whose acronymic name derives from the four types of structures that its unusual athletes leap from—buildings, antennas, spans (bridges) and earth (cliffs).

—Roger Rosenblatt, Time, 19 July 1999

So we can redesign the name DRIPS, with all five letters being comfortably acronymical, and try to ignore the embarrassing question of whether it is singular or plural.

—Richard Dawkins, The Ancestor's Tale, 2004

acronymically

¦a-krə-¦ni-mi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

There is a place for full sentences and correct spelling, even amid the acronymically possessed.

—Christine Hicks-Usta, Buffalo (New York) News, 12 Aug. 2007

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between an acronym and an initialism?

Both acronyms and initialisms are made up of the first letter or letters of the words in a phrase. The word acronym typically applies when the resulting thing can be read as a word; for example, radar comes from "radio detection and ranging" and scuba comes from "self-contained underwater breathing apparatus." The word initialism only applies when the resulting thing is read as an abbreviation; for example DIY, which comes from "do it yourself," is pronounced by saying the names of the letters. Note that the word acronym is also often used to mean "initialism."

What is the difference between an acronym and an abbreviation?

An acronym is a kind of abbreviation. Abbreviations can be shortened forms of any kind. For example, appt is an abbreviation of appointment, and ASAP is an abbreviation of as soon as possible. ASAP, however, also qualifies as an acronym because it is made up of the initial letters of the phrase it comes from: as soon as possible.

Is OK an acronym?

OK is technically an acronym. It comes from the phrase "oll korrect," a humorous alteration of "all correct."

Examples of acronym in a Sentence

Noun

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is known by the acronym “NATO.”

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The meaning of the A$AP acronym has always been somewhat ambiguous. —Rob Kenner, VIBE.com, 8 June 2026

The internet has been lousy with them since the 2000s, long before the acronym entered the lexicon as an outgrowth of the wider financial-independence movement. —Joshua Rivera, Vanity Fair, 8 June 2026

His introduction came at age 10, when RAGBRAI, which is an acronym for the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, passed through his hometown of Oelwein (a town with a population of fewer than 6,000), filling yards with tents and strangers. —Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026

Something more memorable with fewer acronyms would go a long way. —Matthew Buzzi, PC Magazine, 1 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

probably borrowed from German Akronym, Akronymon, from akr- acr- + -onym, -onymon -onym

First Known Use

Noun

1940, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1948, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

acronym

noun

ac·​ro·​nym ˈak-rə-ˌnim 

: a word (as radar) formed from the beginning letter or letters of each or most of the parts of a compound term