Acronym
An abbreviation formed from the initial letters of words, pronounced as a word rather than as individual letters, such as 'NASA' or 'COVID-19'.
Real World
The word 'scuba' began as an acronym for Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus but is now used as an ordinary noun — most divers at PADI centres worldwide have no idea it was ever an abbreviation.
Exam Focus
Distinguish acronyms (pronounced as words: NASA) from initialisms (spelled out: BBC) — examiners penalise conflating the two.
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