definition of acronym
An abbreviation is any shortened or contracted form of a word or phrase. An acronym is a specific type of abbreviation formed from the first letters of a multi-word term, name, or phrase, with those letters pronounced together as one term. OPECâor the O(rganization of) P(etroleum) E(xporting) C(ountries)âis an acronym because we pronounce it as one word, oh-pek.