We are familiar with acronyms such as ASAP which means as soon as possible or PIN which stands for personal identification number. These words or name

We are familiar with acronyms such as ASAP which means as soon as possible or PIN which stands for personal identification number. These words or names are created from the first letters of a longer name or phrase. Backronyms are a little different. Backronyms are described as reverse acronyms, in that they are already existing words whose letters are used as the initial for something else. Let’s get into some backronyms and their origins. 1. FBI As the United States Main Federal Law enforcement organization, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) serves as both its domestic intelligence and security service. Founded in 1908, this agency has undergone several name changes but the official name which we now know was adopted in 1935. There is also a backronym in the organization's identity. A motto that was printed on their official seal was developed- fidelity, bravery, integrity. These three words are found on the scroll below the wreath and shield on the seal. 2. APGAR One and five minutes after birth, an infant is given the fast apgar test. How well the infant tolerates the labor is measured by the one minute score. The five minute score informs the medical professional on the baby's health outside of the mother’s womb. The five letter acronym APGAR stands for appearance, pulse, grimace response, activity and respiration. What is interesting and where the backronym comes in is that this test was developed by Dr. Virginia Apgar in 1952 and created the backronym using her own name. 3. SOS SOS is one of the most popular acronyms. It was created in 1905 in Germany after various nations realized that ships in trouble needed a universal, effective way to signal for assistance that would transcend linguistic barriers. The morse code is communicated by an unbroken sequence of three dots, three dashes and three dots with no spaces in between. When this worldwide standard was first proposed, the letters were not factored in and this series of dots and dashes were used because they were easy to understand. At the time, there was no other meaning. Over time, the backronym for SOS was developed and it was said that it meant “save our ship” or “save our souls.” 4. TIME Did you know that the TIME magazine has been in existence since 1923? This American news magazine and now news website based in New York, is still popular; still timeless. The letters are all capitalized which caused people to speculate that TIME was an acronym. It has been said that it stands for “The International Magazine of Events.” However, there is no evidence of this.  Documents in TIME archives do not suggest this acronym. In fact, it first showed up in 2007, thus making it a “backronym.” Though it was not the brainchild of the company, they have not hesitated to use it as the phrase is so apt. 5. RPG Anyone who is interested in the military or as a gamer would be familiar with RPGs. It is often used as the abbreviation for “rocket-propelled grenade.” RPG also stands for a role-playing game where participants assume the role of the characters. But let’s not get sidetracked here. Actually, RPG is a term generated by the Russians for which is the backronym rocket propelled grenade which was made by English speakers. The Russian term, RPG, means “Ruchnoy Protivotankoviy Granatomyot.” In English, this means “handheld anti-tank grenade launcher.” Let’s give it to the people of the English world who came up with the backronym. At least the two meanings are closely related.

Incredible Backronyms and Their Origins

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