Unusual Words

anacronym, n. (an-'a-kr&-"nim)
a word that is not an acronym, either:

it is not currently used as an acronym, or
it is impossible for it to be an acronym, i.e. no set of words can create the given word as an acronym (no examples exist)

Latin an + acr(o) + onym, first observed in English as someone's attempt to come up with the word "palindrome"
Usage: "It doesn't stand for anything - it's an anacronym."
See also Word Spy for an alternate definition

mironic, adj. ("mI-'rä-nik)
something that is claimed to be ironic, but is not

English m(oronic) + ironic
Usage: "Rain on your wedding day is not ironic, it's mironic."

tyriphobia, n. ("tir-&-'fO-bE-&)
abnormal, intense fear of cheese

Greek tyri + New Latin phobia
Usage: "I can't go into the dairy section, I suffer from tyriphobia."

Pronunciation Guide

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