A type of acronym that is made by deciding on the letters to create a word, and then creating a name or title to fit the acronym. Similar to acronyms, a backronym can be pronounced as a word (those which are pronounced as separate letters and not a word are called abbreviations). In computers, Internet and technology there are a number of famous backronyms:
- The Apple Lisa was named after Steve Jobs’ daughter but was later said to be an acronym for “Local Integrated Software Architecture.”
- The BASIC programming language is also believed to be a backronym. The language was called BASIC, and then the acronym of “Beginner’s All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code” was created.
See also acronym.
