initialism

IPA/ɪnˈɪʃəlɪzəm/
IPA/ɪnˈɪʃəlɪzəm/

initialism — noun

  • initialismsingular
  • initialismsplural

1. a short label built by taking the opening letters of a longer name or expression

1.nounC2
Definition

a short label built by taking the opening letters of a longer name or expression and saying them one by one

Example

In class, Hui explained that FBI is an initialism, not a spoken word.

contrast: initialism vs acronym

The style guide says NGO is an initialism for non-governmental organization.

an initialism for + full name

Common collocations
  • a three-letter initialism
  • a common initialism
  • an initialism for a company name
  • use an initialism once
  • the initialism stands for
Synonyms
  • abbreviation

    a broader term covering many kinds of shortened forms, not only letter-by-letter ones

  • acronym

    close in form, but an acronym is usually pronounced as one word

  • short form

    an everyday term that is less precise in language study

Grammar Patterns

an initialism for + name or phrase

X is an initialism for Y

Usage Note

Often contrasted with acronym. In an initialism, speakers say each letter separately, so FBI and DVD fit this sense, while NATO is usually called an acronym.

Common Mistakes

NATO is an initialism.
NATO is an acronym.
If people normally say the letters as one spoken word, the term is usually acronym rather than initialism.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Initialism is a precise language-study term for a shortening whose letters are spoken one by one. Abbreviation is wider and can cover clipped words, titles, and many other shortened forms. Acronym is the closest neighbor, but it is usually pronounced as a single word, so NASA is commonly called an acronym while FBI is an initialism. Short form is a plain everyday label, not a technical distinction. Initials usually means the first letters of a person's name, so it overlaps in shape but not in typical use.

abbreviation ↗acronym ↗short forminitials ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • a three-letter initialism
  • an initialism for a company name
  • use an initialism once
  • the initialism stands for

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Initialism was formed in English from initial, meaning the first letter of a word, plus the suffix -ism. The term became useful in modern language study to separate letter-by-letter shortenings such as FBI from acronyms that speakers read as full words.