An acronym is a pronounceable word formed from the first letter (or first few letters) of each word in a phrase or title. The newly combined letters create a new word that becomes a part of everyday language. Using shortened forms of words or phrases can speed up communication. Explore this useful shorthand with these examples of acronyms.
AIDS – Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
Ex : He tested positive for AIDS.
ASAP – As Soon As Possible
Ex : We have to get to the hospital ASAP!
AWOL – Absent Without Official Leave (or Absent Without Leave)
Ex: I don’t know where he went. He’s totally AWOL.
IMAX – Image Maximum
Ex: We saw MI:6 in the local IMAX theatre.
LASER – Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation
Ex: Our cat loves to chase a little red LASER beam.
PIN – Personal Identification Number
Ex: You’ll need your PIN to use your bank card at the ATM.
RADAR – Radio Detection and Ranging
Ex: The police officer used RADAR to catch them speeding.
SCUBA – Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus
Ex: We gathered our SCUBA gear and dove into the Atlantic.
SMART – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Timely
Ex: Create SMART goals for the quarter so you’ll be successful.
TASER – Thomas A. Swift’s Electric Rifle
Ex: She hit the attacker with her TASER.
WASP – White Anglo-Saxon Protestant
Ex: Many citizens in the Colonial Era were WASPs
Groups, organizations, and even specific occupational positions are often known more by their acronym than their real name. Some professional acronyms that used to be pronounced letter by letter are now pronounced as words.
AARP – American Association of Retired Persons
Ex: I forgot my AARP card.
DARE – Drug Abuse Resistance Education
Ex: The whole school is doing the DARE program.
FEMA – Federal Emergency Management Agency
Ex: After the hurricane, FEMA helped the survivors rebuild.
HIPAA: Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act
Ex: I can’t give you that information because of HIPAA.
HUD – Department of Housing and Urban Development
Ex: You’ll have to go to the HUD office to get help finding affordable housing.
NAFTA – North American Free Trade Agreement
Ex: NAFTA requires the U.S. to follow this rule.
NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Ex: We watched the NASA engineer explain how a launch works.
NATO – The North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Ex: Let’s hope NATO always remains intact.
OSHA – Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Ex: Everyone make sure you wear your helmets today, We’ve got an OSHA inspection.
POTUS – President Of The United States
Ex: The POTUS will be taking Air Force One to the meeting.
SEAL – Sea Air Land (U.S. Navy)
Ex: The SEAL team is taking this mission.
SNAP – Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Ex: Anyone who qualifies for SNAP benefits qualifies for this program.
SWAT – Special Weapons and Tactics
Ex: The Los Angeles Police Department dispatched their SWAT team.
UNICEF – The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund
Ex: UNICEF appointed a new chairman of the board.
With interactions happening on email, text, Facebook, Instagram, and more, internet acronyms are a part of everyday language. Given our propensity to send quick, off-the-cuff text messages or post short, fun tweets, the grammar rules pertaining to acronyms and capitalization generally fly out the window.
BAE – Before Anyone Else
Ex: He’s my new BAE.
FOMO – Fear Of Missing Out
Ex: I’m only going with you because I have a major case of FOMO.
GIF – Graphics Interchange Format
Ex: She sent me a GIF of a dancing cat.
JPEG – Joint Photographic Experts Group
Ex: You have to attach that photo as a JPEG.
RAM – Random Access Memory
Ex: How much RAM does your computer have?
YOLO – You Only Live Once
Ex: You better go on that trip. YOLO!
Sometimes the new words acronyms create are as funny as their meetings.
KISS – Keep It Simple Stupid
Ex: You don’t have to reinvent the wheel, KISS.
LOL – Laugh Out Loud
Ex: You’re so funny, LOL!
MACUSA – Magical Congress of the United States of America
Ex: In the Fantastic Beasts movie, she was a member of MACUSA.
PHAT – Pretty hot and tempting
Ex: That girl was PHAT!