acrostic

noun

acros·​tic ə-ˈkrȯ-stik How to pronounce acrostic (audio)
-ˈkrä-
1
: a composition usually in verse in which sets of letters (such as the initial or final letters of the lines) taken in order form a word or phrase or a regular sequence of letters of the alphabet
2
: acronym
acrostic adjective
or less commonly acrostical
ə-ˈkrȯ-sti-kəl How to pronounce acrostic (audio)
-ˈkrä-
acrostically
ə-ˈkrȯ-sti-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce acrostic (audio)
-ˈkrä-
adverb

Examples of acrostic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
All in all, every enjoyable aspect of solving an acrostic is well represented. — Caitlin Lovinger, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2020 Each land contains a group of puzzles that range from crosswords and acrostics to cryptograms and engineering problems. — Andrew Hetherington, Popular Mechanics, 12 Mar. 2020

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Greek; Middle French acrostiche, borrowed from Greek akrostichís, from akro- acro- + -stichis, derivative of stíchos "line, row, rank," ablaut derivative of steíchein "to go in order, walk, march" — more at stair

First Known Use

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of acrostic was in 1530

Rhymes for acrostic

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“Acrostic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acrostic. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

acrostic

noun
acros·​tic ə-ˈkrȯs-tik How to pronounce acrostic (audio)
-ˈkräs-
: a poem in which a set of letters (as the first letter of the lines) taken in order form a word or phrase

More from Merriam-Webster on acrostic

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about acrostic

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