Word of the Day
backronym
noun
an existing word turned into an acronym by creating an apt phrase whose initial letters match the word, as to help remember it or offer a theory of its origin.
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Why Dictionary.com chose backronym
More about backronym
- First recorded in 1980–85.
- Formed from the word back “toward the rear” and (ac)ronym, “a word formed from the initial letters or groups of letters of words in a set phrase and pronounced as a separate word.”
EXAMPLES OF BACKRONYM
- Some people believe the word news stands for “notable events, weather, and sports,” but that’s not accurate; it’s a backronym.
- My neighbor insists that SOS means “Save Our Ship” and wouldn’t believe that people made up that backronym years after SOS was first used.
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Why Dictionary.com chose ablution
More about ablution
- First recorded around 1350–1400.
- Comes via Middle English from the Latin stem of ablūtiō, related to abluere (from which comes abluent, “serving to cleanse”).
- Often used in the plural, ablutions.
EXAMPLES OF ABLUTION
- As part of his daily routine, he would perform the ablution with reverence and mindfulness, appreciating the ritual’s significance.
- The sound of running water during ablution brought a sense of calm and tranquility to her morning routine.
bafflegab
noun
confusing or generally unintelligible jargon; gobbledegook.
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Why Dictionary.com chose bafflegab
More about bafflegab
- First recorded in 1950–55.
- Formed from the words baffle, “to confuse, bewilder,” and gab, “to talk or chat idly.”
- It was possibly invented by American lawyer Milton A. Smith.
EXAMPLES OF BAFFLEGAB
- As a beginner in the field, I found the technical manual to be full of bafflegab that made learning difficult.
- The company’s financial report was so laden with bafflegab that even seasoned analysts struggled to make sense of it.
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