acronyms

Noun

acronym (plural acronyms)

1. Generally such abbreviations, including those pronounced as individual letters (initialisms such as "TNT").
   • Pee-gee-enn. It's an acronym, that's what it is. That's what they call words made up of initials.1940, L. Feuchtwanger, translated by W. Muir et al., Paris Gazette, iii, xlvii, p. 518
2. Exclusively such abbreviations when pronounced as a word (as "laser" or "NATO").
   • Some teachers festoon every spare inch of wall with vocabulary choices or maths techniques to use, which look great at first, but to some children might appear quite daunting. You'll probably see unfamiliar acronyms such as Walt (We Are Learning To). Be sure to ask what they stand for and how they...2014 September 23, “Choosing a Primary School: A Teacher's Guide for Parents”, in The Guardian
3. An abbreviation formed by the beginning letters or syllables of other words; this sense includes syllabic abbreviations such as Benelux and satnav.
   • Acronyms or telescoped names like nabisco from National Biscuit Company.1950, Simeon Potter, Our Language, page 163

See all 4 meanings of acronym