Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun An acronym coined from an existing word or name. For example, wiki is a backronym when used for what I know is because wiki is a word whose original meaning is “collaborative website.”
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun A word that is either not an
acronym but is taken to be one and for which a full form is invented byback-formation , or is an acronym and for which an alternative full form is invented by back-formation.
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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Nope — although I’m not too far from Cary (and yes — that backronym is commonly used around these parts).
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EH: “TEA” is a backronym when said to mean, “taxed enough already.”
The Volokh Conspiracy » Connecticut “Racial Ridicule” Statute 2010
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“TEA” is a backronym when said to mean, “taxed enough already.”
The Volokh Conspiracy » Connecticut “Racial Ridicule” Statute 2010
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In some ways, USA Today's report is a rebuttal to Tea Partiers and others who have complained about their supposedly intolerable tax burdens — the Tea Party's name is sometimes portrayed as backronym for "taxed enough already" — except perhaps for those in the highest brackets.
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EH: “TEA” is a backronym when said to mean, “taxed enough already.”
The Volokh Conspiracy » Connecticut “Racial Ridicule” Statute 2010
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“TEA” is a backronym when said to mean, “taxed enough already.”
The Volokh Conspiracy » Connecticut “Racial Ridicule” Statute 2010
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That looks ... unfortunate, but hey, we didn't backronym it correctly, and now we're stuck with it.
International Wear A Dress Day 2009 -- Save The Date - A Dress A Day 2009
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That looks ... unfortunate, but hey, we didn't backronym it correctly, and now we're stuck with it.
October 2009 2009
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Choose one and then manufacture a ridiculous backronym to explain it.
Archive 2006-04-01 Ben Barren 2006
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Choose one and then manufacture a ridiculous backronym to explain it.
3 to 5 Letter URLs for Your.com + .au Ben Barren 2006
neely2kx commented on the word backronym
An example of a backronym from the word acronym is as follows.
Acronyms Condense Representations Of Neologisms You Memorize
In this example, because the word acronym itself is not an acronym, the phrase above is a pure backronym, not a replacement backronym. Also, because the word acronym itself appears in its backronym, the phrase is also a recursive-backronym.
October 6, 2007
reesetee commented on the word backronym
Brain. Hurts.
October 6, 2007
mialuthien commented on the word backronym
backronym – the reverse of producing an acronym; taking a word which already exists and creating a phrase (usually humorous) using the letters of the word as initials, from backwards) + acronym; see also bacronym
July 19, 2008
frogapplause commented on the word backronym
I have a condition known by a stupid backronym: ACHOO Syndrome. Medically, it is Autosomal Dominant Compelling Helioophthalmic Outburst Syndrome or "photic sneezing". Photic sneezers begin sneezing soon after they're exposed to bright sunlight. Is anybody else on Wordie a photic sneezer?
September 28, 2008
bilby commented on the word backronym
*passes a handkerchief*
September 28, 2008
frogapplause commented on the word backronym
Thanks, bilby.
September 29, 2008
dontcry commented on the word backronym
You know, my son has an episode of sneezing almost every morning. I've always teased, telling him he's allergic to morning! I really thought it had something to do with real allergies and perhaps breathing differently (through the nose instead of the mouth), after a deep sleep, upon just awakening. Now I can tell him he just has ACHOO! He'll like that.
September 29, 2008
pterodactyl commented on the word backronym
I'm not a photic sneezer, but I enjoyed this article.
September 29, 2008
jeliot commented on the word backronym
an acronym constructed from a pre-existing word or words
August 14, 2009
arby commented on the word backronym
From the examples:
"N.O.R.E. is a backronym for Niggaz On (the) Run Eatin"
Ha!
November 23, 2009
lampbane commented on the word backronym
BUMP
(Backronym: Bring Up My Post)
November 23, 2009
fbharjo commented on the word backronym
Is there such a thing as a 'frontrownym'?
It would garner a lot of 'hindsight'.
August 28, 2010