Meanings
nounbackronymy (uncountable)
- uncountableThe back-formation of a phrase to fit an acronym.
This is made possible by the almost instantaneous demotivation of acronyms (see also Fandrych 2004: 21, 122, 132, and Ungerer 1991a and 1991b), which enables processes such as remotivation, backronymy and playfulness.
2012 July, Ingrid Fandrych, “Small is beautiful: from initials to words”, in MIRANDA
Cite this entry
APA
backronymy. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/backronymy
MLA
“backronymy.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/backronymy. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “backronymy,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/backronymy.
Source: backronymy on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.