borrowing

Definition | Meaning

  1. The adoption of a word from one language into the lexicon of another.

Example | Illustration

  • an example of borrowing in English is the Japanese word tsunami, the massive tidal wave which frequently follows an earthquake

Etymology | Origin

Compare | See

  • calque

blending

Definition | Meaning

  1. The creation of a new word by combining the first part of one word with the last part of another.

Example | Illustration

  • the word ‘smog’ is made up of the words ‘smoke’ and ‘fog’
  • the brand name Netopia is made up of the words ‘net’ and ‘utopia’
  • although comparatively rare in English, this process is a common means of word formation in several language families (e.g. Malayo-Polynesian); it is distinct from recombinant morphemics in that only a portion of each morpheme is used

Etymology | Origin

Compare | See

  • portmanteau word
  • Recombinant Morphemics

backronym

Definition | Meaning

  1. A name reinterpreted by consumers as an amusing or ironic acronym.

Example | Illustration

  • some owners jokingly suggest that the name Fiat stands for “Fix It Again Tomorrow”

Etymology | Origin

  • coined from back + acronym

Compare | See

  • acronym

back formation

Definition | Meaning

  1. The creation of a new word from an existing form assumed, incorrectly, to be its derivative.

Example | Illustration

  • the word ‘edit’ was actually formed by dropping the suffix ‘-or’ from ‘editor’, not the other way around

Etymology | Origin

archaism

Definition | Meaning

  1. Any brand name which, by the simple passage of time, is antiquated in style or meaning.

Example | Illustration

  • Clabber Girl baking powder

Etymology | Origin

Compare | See

  • archaicism
  • anachronism