A backronym or bacronym is a phrase constructed purposely, such that an acronym can be formed to a specific desired word. Backronyms may be invented with serious or humorous intent, or may be a type of false or folk etymology.

The word is a combination (a portmanteau or a blend) of backward and acronym, and has been defined as a "reverse acronym". Its earliest known citation in print is as "bacronym" in the November 1983 edition of the Washington Post monthly neologism contest. The newspaper quoted winning reader "Meredith G. Williams of Potomac" defining it as the "same as an acronym, except that the words were chosen to fit the letters".

Contents

• 1 Differences from acronyms
• 2 Examples
  • 2.1 False acronyms
• 3 See also
• 4 References
• 5 External links

Noun

backronym (plural backronyms)

1. A word that is either not an acronym but is taken to be one and for which a full form is invented by back-formation, or is an acronym and for which an alternative full form is invented by back-formation.

Derived terms

• backronymic

www.fbijobopenings.com
... fbi_job_openings_or_federal_bureau_of_investigation/web.htm http://www.fbijobopenings.com/fbi ... regional/north_america/united_states/government/executive_branch/department_of_justice/federal_bureau_of_investigation ...
www.fbijobopenings.com/urllist.txt

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