# Is there a word for "An acronym that becomes a word in it's own right"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 23, 2003, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-an-acronym-that-becomes-a-word-in-its-own-right/203274 "2003-09-23T07:44:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-an-acronym-that-becomes-a-word-in-its-own-right/203274/21 "2003-09-24T17:11:09Z")
And a reverse-engineered acronym, where the acronym spells out an existing word and was (most likely) constructed on purpose so as to end up that way – e.g., “VISTA” (volunteers in service to america), “WIN” (whip inflation now), “LEO” ([ny public] Library Entrance Online), etc. – is a **"bacronym"** 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-an-acronym-that-becomes-a-word-in-its-own-right/203274/22 "2003-09-24T21:27:26Z")
OK, all you people who think that there’s a distinction between an acronym and an initialism (or abbreviation) depending on its pronunciation, please tell me whether the following examples are acronyms or not: 1. ROTC 2. AWOL Both of these, and there are others, but I can’t think of them right now, can and are pronounced as both a sequence of letters and in some other way (which I assume is what is meant by pronounced as a “word”). Sometimes by the same person in different contexts. So are they acronyms or initialisms? ---
**Author:** ![BlueMit11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7feea3/32.png) [@BlueMit11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueMit11)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-an-acronym-that-becomes-a-word-in-its-own-right/203274/23 "2003-09-24T21:53:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\*So are they acronyms or initialisms? > \*\* Both. It depends on the way it’s used. That’s kind of like asking whether ‘y’ is a vowel or a consonant. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-an-acronym-that-becomes-a-word-in-its-own-right/203274/24 "2003-09-24T23:08:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by toscar \* > \*\*I’ve just looked up JEEP in Webster’s and Encarta. > > [Mid-20th century. From GP , from general purpose , probably influenced by “Eugene the Jeep,” character in the cartoon strip “Popeye.”] > Microsoft® Encarta® Reference Library 2003. © 1993-2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. > > Webster’s will not allow me to copy and paste but the entry confirms Encarta. \*\* As I said, it is a view that is **commonly** (but erroneously) held. The folks at Encarta are less than current on the origin of word/phrases. Ditto for a “generic” version of “Webster’s” dictionary. The term “Webster’s” can be used by anyone writing a dictionary. The only respected dictionary to use that name is _Merriam-Webster’s_. Those folks do their homework and are the ultimate general purpose dictionary available today. They are exceeded only by the OED, which has a whole different purpose, budget, and etc. Neither of these dictionaries still attribute “JEEP” to “General Purpose.” I’m sure we’ve even done threads on here about the origins of the term. Trust me on this one. It almost certainly did NOT come from “General Purpose.” ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-an-acronym-that-becomes-a-word-in-its-own-right/203274/25 "2003-09-25T06:58:50Z")
This topic has been argued several times in GQ and I’ve contributed to several (all?) of them. I don’t feel like rehashing my posts, so just read these threads, especially the first one which is short: [Acronyms -vs- Initialisms](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?&threadid=46209) [laser, maser, scuba…](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?&threadid=49299) [It ain’t an acronym. What is it?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?&threadid=182731) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-an-acronym-that-becomes-a-word-in-its-own-right/203274.md?page=1)