Definition of backronym

backronym

noun

a word that has come to be an acronym (or is viewed by some as an acronym) when it was not originally an acronym.

Slang examples include "SHIT" meaning "ship high in transit", "PHAT" meaning "pretty hot and tempting", etc.

"Backronym" is itself an acronym, being "back" + "acronym".
- See more words with the same meaning: acronyms (list of).
- See more words with the same meaning: computer slang.
Last edited on Feb 11 2013. Submitted by WalterGR (via TheJargonFile) on Aug 14 2009.

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Related words

Slang terms with the same meaning

Other terms relating to 'acronyms (list of)':
FBI	Definitions include: acronym for "Female Body Inspector".
NRN	Definitions include: acronym for "no response necessary" or "no response needed".
GLHF	Definitions include: acronym for "good luck, have fun".
PJ	Definitions include: acronym for "party juice" - a mixed drink prepared in large quantities for parties.
PDA	Definitions include: acronym for "public display(s) of affection".
DSL	Definitions include: acronym for "dick sucking lips."
FLK	Definitions include: acronym for "funny looking kid", an insult used by doctors in the UK on medical charts.
rod	Definitions include: a penis.
DILLIGAS	Definitions include: acronym for "do I look like I give a shit."
simp	Definitions include: acronym of Someone that Impersonates or Mimics a Pimp
PTO	Definitions include: acronym for "Paid Time Off."
NBD	Definitions include: acronym for "no big deal".
FTFY	Definitions include: acronym for "fixed that for you".
TW	Definitions include: acronym for "trigger warning".
GFE	Definitions include: acronym for "girlfriend experience."
(show 681 more)
Other terms relating to 'computer slang':
blogosphere	Definitions include: the totality of all blogs.
bit rot	Definitions include: a hypothetical disease that causes programs to run more poorly over time and causes documents to become corrupted.
thrash	Definitions include: in a computer system, to be stuck performing some activity repeatedly but not making progress.
TTYL	Definitions include: acronym for "talk to you later".
guerilla testing	Definitions include: testing of a software application, performed on devices (such as computers and cell phones) made available to potential purchasers in retail stores.
tickle a bug	Definitions include: to cause a software or hardware bug to become evident.
walled garden	Definitions include: a set of information services available to subscribers only.
frag	Definitions include: to kill or seriously damage.
MMORPG	Definitions include: acronym for "massively multiplayer online role playing game."
LYL	Definitions include: acronym for "love you lots".
RTM	Definitions include: acronym for "read the manual".
wizard	Definitions include: used with a subject matter to refer to a person with deep, expert knowledge of that subject matter.
r	Definitions include: shortened, phonetic version of "are".
pr0n	Definitions include: Pornography.
YANAL	Definitions include: acronym for "you are not a lawyer."
(show 565 more)

Slang terms with the same root words

Other terms relating to 'acronym':
TLA	Definitions include: acronym for "three-letter acronym".
Other terms relating to 'back':
back	Definitions include: large buttocks.
back 40	Definitions include: wild or rough terrain adjacent to a developed area.
*back sswards**	Definitions include: done or performed incorrectly, strangely, opposite from the correct way, or clumsily; "backwards".
back at the ranch	Definitions include: exclamation useful when the conversation is going off tangent.
back at you	Definitions include: and the same to you.
back door	Definitions include: the anus.
back door man	Definitions include: the man who a cheating spouse sees on the side.
back-door trots, the	Definitions include: horrendous diarrhea.
back end	Definitions include: the anus.
back forty	Definitions include: a place that is far away.
back in the day	Definitions include: at some time before the present.
back in the saddle	Definitions include: having resumed an activity that one had previously stopped performing.
back off	Definitions include: large buttocks.
back one out	Definitions include: to defecate; "poop".
back on (one's) feet	Definitions include: doing better after an unfavorable event.
(show 67 more hide.)