What is the difference between an abbreviation and an acronym?
The meaning of an acronym is the same as that of an abbreviation – that is, it is a short form of a word. So as such an acronym is no different from an abbreviation. However, an abbreviation is called an acronym when it is pronounced like the word itself. Thus, for example, LASER is an abbreviation for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation, but it is also pronounced fully as “Laser”. It is thus called an acronym.
