# Word for the shortening of a longer word \[eg, polio, burger, auto\]

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-for-the-shortening-of-a-longer-word-eg-polio-burger-auto/926708>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 29, 2020, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-for-the-shortening-of-a-longer-word-eg-polio-burger-auto/926708 "2020-11-29T01:12:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2020, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-for-the-shortening-of-a-longer-word-eg-polio-burger-auto/926708/1 "2020-11-29T01:12:45Z")

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Is there a word for the linguistic tendency to shorten a long word, in which the shorter word also becomes part of the language, the words in the subject shortened from poliomyelitis, hamburger, and automobile, respectively.

‘Elision’ is close, but I dont know if that covers it.

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**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2020, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-for-the-shortening-of-a-longer-word-eg-polio-burger-auto/926708/2 "2020-11-29T01:18:59Z")

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[Clipping](https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-clipping-words-1689855)?

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**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2020, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-for-the-shortening-of-a-longer-word-eg-polio-burger-auto/926708/3 "2020-11-29T01:22:58Z")

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Truncation.

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**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2020, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-for-the-shortening-of-a-longer-word-eg-polio-burger-auto/926708/4 "2020-11-29T01:51:56Z")

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Thanks!