RAS syndrome

noun

Redundant acronym syndrome syndrome, a tautology in which one or more words that make up an acronym or initialism are used redundantly in conjunction with said abbreviation.

Meanings

nounRAS syndrome (uncountable)
  1. humorousuncountablehuman sciencesRedundant acronym syndrome syndrome, a tautology in which one or more words that make up an acronym or initialism are used redundantly in conjunction with said abbreviation.

Origin

Coined by science magazine New Scientist in 2001.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

RAS syndrome. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/RAS%20syndrome

MLA

“RAS syndrome.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/RAS%20syndrome. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “RAS syndrome,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/RAS%20syndrome.

Source: RAS syndrome on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.