anachronym

English

Etymology

Blend of anachronous +‎ acronym.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /əˈnæk.ɹə.nɪm/
• Rhymes: -ækɹənɪm
• Homophone: anacronym

Noun

anachronym (plural anachronyms)

1. Synonym of backronym

   Hypernym: folk etymology

2. A term which is used in an anachronistic way, by referring to something in a way that is appropriate only for a former or later time. A type of misnomer. Misnomers are not necessarily incorrect; for example, chalk for a chalkboard is normatively called chalk despite it not being made of chalk.

   Hypernym: misnomer

Usage notes

• Do not confuse an anachronym (such as tin foil) with an anacronym (such as radar or scuba), despite the homophony of the terms.
• Distinguish a retronym, a term invented later for an old object or concept. In a work set before the invention of electric guitars, a reference to an acoustic guitar would be anachronistic, but a reference to one today would not be, although it is a retronym.

See also

• anachronism, retronym