Acronym vs. Synonym — What's the Difference?

An acronym is a word or name formed from the initial components of a longer name or phrase, usually using individual initial letters, as in NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) or EU (European Union), but sometimes using syllables, as in Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg), or a mixture of the two, as in radar (RAdio Detection And Ranging). Similarly, acronyms are sometimes pronounced as words, as in NASA or UNESCO, sometimes as the individual letters, as in FBI or ATM, or a mixture of the two, as in JPEG or IUPAC. The broader sense of acronym inclusive of terms pronounced as the individual letters (such as "TNT") is sometimes criticized, but it is the term's original meaning and is in common use.

A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in the same language. For example, the words begin, start, commence, and initiate are all synonyms of one another; they are synonymous.

An abbreviation formed from the initial letters of other words and pronounced as a word (e.g. ASCII, NASA).

A word or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word or phrase in the same language, for example shut is a synonym of close

A word formed by combining the initial letters of a multipart name, such as NATO from North Atlantic Treaty Organization or by combining the initial letters or parts of a series of words, such as radar from radio detecting and ranging.

A word having the same or nearly the same meaning as another word or other words in a language.

Usage Problem An initialism.

A word or expression that serves as a figurative or symbolic substitute for another

(linguistics) An abbreviation formed by the initial letters of other words, sometimes exclusively such abbreviations when pronounced as a word (as "laser") rather than as individual letters (initialisms such as "TNT").

(Biology) One of two or more scientific names that have been applied to the same species or other taxonomic group.

(linguistics) An abbreviation formed by the beginning letters or syllables of other words (as "Benelux").

A word whose meaning is the same as that of another word.

To form into an acronym.

A word or phrase with a meaning that is the same as, or very similar to, another word or phrase.

A word formed from the initial letters of a multi-word name

(zoology) Any of the formal names for a taxon, including the valid name (i.e. the senior synonym).

Any name for a taxon, usually a validly published, formally accepted one, but often also an unpublished name.

(databases) An alternative (often shorter) name defined for an object in a database.

One of two or more words (commonly words of the same language) which are equivalents of each other; one of two or more words which have very nearly the same signification, and therefore may often be used interchangeably. See under Synonymous.

An incorrect or incorrectly applied scientific name, as a new name applied to a species or genus already properly named, or a specific name preoccupied by that of another species of the same genus; - so used in the system of nomenclature (which see) in which the correct scientific names of certain natural groups (usually genera, species, and subspecies) are regarded as determined by priority.

One of two or more words corresponding in meaning but of different languages; a heteronym.

Two words that can be interchanged in a context are said to be synonymous relative to that context