BACKRONYM

A backronym is an acronym that matches an existing word, often a word interpreted as an acronym that was not originally so intended. This is a special case of what linguists call back-formation. Backronyms give the impression that the acronym was contrived to fit the word, whether the fit is deliberate or accidental.

For example, BASIC is apparently a "basic" programming language, and it stands for "Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code".

"Backronym" is a portmanteau of back + acronym. Discovering backronyms is a common form of wordplay among hackers.

Compare to retronym, apronym

Politics seems to provide most of the examples. Each acronym serves as a sort of slogan:

MAD - This acronym is the same as the word meaning insane, but that might be a coincidence.
NUTS - This is clearly a contrived acronym, both to play on the acronym MAD as well as assert the viewpoint that it would be mad to rely on the mutual assured destruction.
START - Apparently intended by its coiners as a "start" in the right direction, i.e., nuclear disarmament
USA PATRIOT Act - Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001

This kind of acronym is very common. See Canonical Abbreviation/Acronym List

Specialty Definition: BACKRONYM

Domain	Definition
Computing	Backronym n. [portmanteau of back + acronym] A word interpreted as an acronym that was not originally so intended. This is a special case of what linguists call `back formation'. Examples are given under BASIC, recursive acronym (Cygnus), Acme, and mung. Discovering backronyms is a common form of wordplay among hackers. Compare retcon. Source: Jargon File.
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Anagrams: BACKRONYM

Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams
	Words within the letters "a-b-c-k-m-n-o-r-y"
	-2 letters: acronym, rockaby.
	-3 letters: barony, baryon, carbon, carboy, corban, corymb, crambo, cranky, crayon, croaky, macron, ryokan.
	-4 letters: acorn, ambry, anomy, bacon, banco, barky, barmy, barny, baron, boyar, braky, brank, brock, bronc, carbo, carny, carob, carom, cobra, conky, corby, corky, corny, crank, croak, crony, cyano, cymar, krona, macon, macro, manor, mayor, moray, narco, narky, racon.
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro.