retronymPronunciation: /ˈrɛtrə(ʊ)nɪm/Definition of retronym noun a new term created from an existing word in order to distinguish the original referent of the existing word from a later one that is the product of progress or technological development (e.g. acoustic guitar for guitar). Origin: 1980s: from retro- + -onymretronym in other Oxford dictionaries Definition of retronym in the US English dictionary