Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
bacronym
Noun
/ˈbækrəˌnɪm/
Definition
A term that was created by taking an existing word and giving it a new meaning based on the letters in that word.
Examples
- NASA is a bacronym that stands for National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
- The word “POSH” is sometimes humorously described as standing for ‘Port Out, Starboard Home.’
Meaning
A bacronym is often used in a playful or humorous way, where a word that already exists is retrofitted to stand for a phrase.
Synonyms
- Backronym
- Acronym (if playful)
