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
acrostic adjective
or less commonly acrostical

Examples of acrostic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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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

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Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

acrostic

noun
: a poem in which a set of letters (as the first letter of the lines) taken in order form a word or phrase

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