English

Noun

retronymy ‎(uncountable)

1. The process of creating retronyms; coining new words for existing concepts because the meaning of the original word has broadened.
   • 2012, e-Study Guide for: Integrated Business Communication, ISBN 1467280070:

     Much retronymy is driven by advances in technology.

   • 2013, Peter Bachmann, ‎Michael Köhl, ‎& Risto Päivinen, Assessment of Biodiversity for Improved Forest Planning, ISBN 9401590060:

     Of special interest to terminologists is retronymy, which consists of renaming an existing concept more precisely in order to adjust to a conceptual shift, as will be illustrated below.

   • 2015, M. Rogers, Specialised Translation: Shedding the 'Non-Literary' Tag, ISBN 1137478411:

     What they describe is the well-known phenomenon of retronymy (see, for instance, Ahmad & Collingham 1996). Whatever such consequential terminological changes are called, this understanding of 'gap' is system-related.