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

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

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

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