initialism

/ɪnˈɪʃəlɪzəm/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪnˈɪʃəlɪzəm/ (ame, ipa) · /i-ˈni-shə-ˌli-zəm/ (ame, mw)

initialism — noun

  • initialismsingular
  • initialismsplural

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

1.名詞C2
釋義

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

例句

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

同義詞
  • 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

文法句型

an initialism for + name or phrase

X is an initialism for Y

用法筆記

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.

常見錯誤

❌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.