Retronym Definition

rĕtrə-nĭm
noun
A word or phrase created because an existing term that was once used alone needs to be distinguished from a term referring to a new development, as acoustic guitar in contrast to electric guitar or analog watch in contrast to digital watch.
American Heritage

Other Word Forms of Retronym

Noun

Singular:
retronym
Plural:
retronyms

Origin of Retronym

  • retro- +"Ž -onym; coined by Frank Mankiewicz and popularized by William Safire in The New York Times

    From Wiktionary

  • retr(o)– –onym

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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retronym