acronymy

A1C3R1O1N1Y4M3Y4

noun

The formation of words from the initial components of words in a phrase

Scrabble 18
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Meanings

nounacronymy (uncountable)
  1. uncountableThe formation of words from the initial components of words in a phrase

    In modern China, due to school teaching, the modern media and international mobility, the English language and the Latin alphabet are quickly gaining ground and with them acronymy.

    2014, Franz Rainer, Francesco Gardani, Hans Christian Luschützky, Morphology and Meaning, →ISBN
  2. uncountableThe use of acronyms.

    In some cases of acronymy, the initials are pronounced as in TKO for Technical Knock Out. In others, the initials and/or beginning segments are pronounced as the spelled word would be, like in UFO, Unidentified Flying Object.

    2003, Helen Ponce de Leon-Ladera, Edna Montano-de la Cruz, Magelende Magallona-Flores, Eufrocina Angeles-Guevara, The New Dimensions in Learning English, →ISBN, page 438

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
acronymization

Origin

From acronym + -y.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

“acronymy.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/acronymy. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “acronymy,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/acronymy.

Source: acronymy on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.