Word info

retronym

Noun

Meaning

a word introduced because an existing term has become inadequate

Source: WordNet

Hypernyms

Examples

Nobody ever heard of analog clocks until digital clocks became common, so `analog clock' is a retronym Source: Internet

A retronym is a new name for something that differentiates the original from a more recent form or version. Source: Internet

This retronym was coined recently, together with NAS and SAN. Source: Internet

The term silent film is therefore a retronym that is, a term created to distinguish something retroactively. Source: Internet

The term snail-mail is a retronym to distinguish it from the quicker email. Source: Internet

Close letter words and terms