Definition:
A word formed from the initial letters of a name (for example, NATO, from North Atlantic Treaty Organization) or by combining initial letters of a series of words (radar, from radio detection and ranging).
Etymology:
From the Greek, "point" + "name"Examples and Observations:
- "There is only one known pre-20th-century word with an acronymic origin . . .: colinderies or colinda, an acronym for the Colonial and Indian Exposition (1886)." (David Wilton, Word Myths, 2004)
- "The pronunciation of letter acronyms has encouraged two tendencies in abbreviation: to omit points (NATO rather than N.A.T.O.; to use lower-case letters (radar rather than RADAR). As a result, an acronym may become so fully a word that its letter-based origin ceases to signify or be remembered, as with radar."
(Tom McArthur, ed., The Oxford Companion to the English Language) - "I have a couple of lists that I can refer to throughout the day, but I don't have the official 'FAT' book yet. Yes, it really is called the FAT (Federal Acronym and Terms) book."
(John Scales) - ABBA: The name of this 1970s Swedish pop group was derived from the first names of the group's members: Agnetha, Bjorn, Benny, and Anni-Frid.
- BOMFOG: from the initial letters in "Brotherhood Of Man, Fatherhood Of God." First used by journalists to refer to a familiar theme in Nelson Rockefeller's campaign speeches; now refers to pious blather of any kind.
- KISS: from the initial letters in "Keep It Simple, Stupid"--advice commonly given to speakers and writers.
- POTUS: from the initial letters in "President of the United States."
- Snafu: "Situation normal: all fouled up"--a U.S. Army acronym going back to World War II.
- "Re-branding FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) doesn't fix the problem; it just puts a new acronym on it."
(David Marin)
Pronunciation: AK-ri-nim
Also Known As: protogram
