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)':
kthanksbye	Definitions include: shortened version of "okay, thanks, bye."
ICUP	Definitions include: "I see you pee", i.e. "I see you urinate".
WIP	Definitions include: acronym for "Work In progress."
OH	Definitions include: acronym for "over-heard".
WOTD	Definitions include: acronym for "word of the day".
IAAL	Definitions include: acronym for "I am a lawyer".
RN	Definitions include: acronym for "right now".
MLIG	Definitions include: acronym for "my life is great".
LOLFDGB	Definitions include: acronym for "little old lady fall down go boom".
TTBOMK	Definitions include: acronym for "to the best of my knowledge."
PDQ	Definitions include: acronym for "pretty damned quick" or "pretty darned quick", i.e. quickly.
/s	Definitions include: used at the end of text-based communication to indicate that the content was sarcastic.
IDGAF	Definitions include: acronym for "I don't give a fuck."
TCBO	Definitions include: Acronym for "Take Care (of) Busting Out."
prly	Definitions include: "probably".
(show 721 more)
Other terms relating to 'computer slang':
zap	Definitions include: zapping someone is cussing them out.
1432	Definitions include: "I love you too".
TT4N	Definitions include: "ta-ta for now", i.e. "goodbye for now."
NOYB	Definitions include: acronym for "none of your business."
barf	Definitions include: to vomit.
IIUC	Definitions include: acronym for "if I understand correctly".
pwd	Definitions include: "password."
h8	Definitions include: "hate".
wart	Definitions include: a small piece of a design that doesn't work as well as the rest of the design.
kluge	Definitions include: alternate spelling of kludge.
pathological	Definitions include: of input used to test a program or an algorithm, specifically designed to make the test subject perform as poorly as possible.
swap space	Definitions include: temporary storage space used then moving or reconfiguring a room.
TTBOMK	Definitions include: acronym for "to the best of my knowledge."
button masher	Definitions include: a videogame that requires mashing buttons to play, rather than finesse.
freeware	Definitions include: "Freeware" was originally the trademark of "PC-Talk" author Andrew Fluegelman.
(show 590 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)