backronym (BAK-ro-nim) noun A word re-interpreted as an acronym.
[Compound of back + acronym.] In a backronym, an expansion is invented to treat an existing word as an acronym. An example is the PERL programming language whose name is now explained as an acronym of Practical Extraction and Report Language. When naming, sometimes a suitable name is chosen and then an acronym is retrofitted on top of it: USA PATRIOT Act (Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism). The clunkiness of the expansion is a quick giveaway. How about forming a backronym for ACRONYM itself: A Contrived Result Of Nomenclature Yielding Mechanism? Often, backronyms serve a useful purpose as mnemonics. For example, see Apgar Score: http://wordsmith.org/words/apgar_score.html "Some people think chad is an acronym standing for Card Hole Aggregate Debris. But Kevin told me about the cyberlegend that chad is a backronym." Marsha Mercer; Chad Finds New Meaning in Post-election Verbiage; Richmond Times-Dispatch (Virginia); Nov 19, 2000. This week's theme: words about words. Sponsors' Messages: Read a word you wonder at? "Mark" it to look up later and don't mar the page! Find it again fast. Learn more at http://www.bookdarts.com Want a professional writer's help? Critiques, help with writer's block. Fiction, nonfiction, plays. Free newsletter. Visit http://RoySorrels.com ............................................................................ Insanity in individuals is something rare - but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -Friedrich Nietzsche, philosopher (1844-1900) Share the magic of words. Send a gift subscription of A.Word.A.Day: http://wordsmith.org/awad/gift.html Pronunciation: http://wordsmith.org/words/backronym.wav http://wordsmith.org/words/backronym.ram Permalink: http://wordsmith.org/words/backronym.html This message was sent to "[email protected]".
