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)':
OMLG	Definitions include: acronym for "Oh my Lady Gaga".
NWS	Definitions include: acronym for "not work safe".
FUBAR	Definitions include: confused, ruined; "messed up".
HA	Definitions include: "Hell's Angels".
EOD	Definitions include: acronym for "End of Day."
wild	Definitions include: acronyms for "a woman I'd like to doink".
AFAICT	Definitions include: acronym for "as far as I can tell".
ATM	Definitions include: acronym for "ass-to-mouth", i.e. a sex act in which anal sex is immediately followed by fellatio or cunnilingus.
CSB	Definitions include: acronym for "cool story, bro".
bof	Definitions include: used to express displeasure, disagreement, disappointment, or disgust.
OJ	Definitions include: to kill via stabbing.
31337	Definitions include: computer speak for "elite."
SCNR	Definitions include: acronym for "sorry, could not resist".
ITYM	Definitions include: acronym for "I think you mean."
IMNSHO	Definitions include: acronym for "in my, not so humble opinion".
(show 722 more)
Other terms relating to 'computer slang':
handwave	Definitions include: an insufficient (and often dismissive) explanation of something complex.
postarrhea	Definitions include: metaphorical disease that causes a person to post too many things to some location on the web.
FWIW	Definitions include: acronym for "for what it's worth".
Google-fu	Definitions include: talent in using the Google search engine.
rathole	Definitions include: a subject that has been known to use up a significant amount of discussion time, without participants coming to a consensus.
woot	Definitions include: an expression of excitement or joy, used mostly by computer aficionados.
SYAU	Definitions include: acronym for "shut your ass up".
DB	Definitions include: a mess, from "dog's breakfast."
LMAO	Definitions include: acronym for "laughing my ass off."
nn	Definitions include: "non-nude".
swap out	Definitions include: Details are available in the entry for swap.
sock puppet	Definitions include: in an online community, a second account created by an account-holder.
webspeak	Definitions include: the words and phrases that are (mostly) unique to communication on the world wide web.
CNBU	Definitions include: acronym for "cannot be unseen".
OMFG	Definitions include: acronym for "oh my fucking god."
(show 591 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-catalog	Definitions include: obscure.
back-catalogue	Definitions include: obscure.
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.
(show 71 more hide)