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noun

acrostic

uh-KROSS-tik
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Acrostic (noun) means a poem or piece of writing whose initial letters, read down the page, spell out a hidden name or message. Example: “The children wrote an acrostic using the letters of their teacher's name.”

noun
1
A poem or piece of writing whose initial letters, read down the page, spell out a hidden name or message.
"The children wrote an acrostic using the letters of their teacher's name."
"Each line of the acrostic began with a letter that spelled out the word autumn."
"She hid a private message in the poem by writing it as an acrostic."
adjective
1
Relating to or written in the form of an acrostic.
"The class was set an acrostic writing exercise for homework."
"He designed an acrostic puzzle for the school newsletter."
"The greeting card featured an acrostic verse spelling out her name."

How to use acrostic

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA piece of writing where certain letters, often the first in each line, spell out a hidden word.

When to use it

It is mostly used in writing and puzzle contexts rather than casual speech.

Memory tip

Remember that an acrostic hides a word down the page, while an acronym is a word formed from initials read across.

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Easily confused with
acronym →
Common pairings
write an acrostic acrostic poem acrostic puzzle solve an acrostic
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The children wrote an _____ using the letters of their teacher's name.

Etymology

Acrostic was borrowed from Middle French acrostiche, which came from Late Latin acrostichis. That word in turn came from Ancient Greek, combining a root meaning tip or extremity with a word meaning a row or line of verse.

Origin: Middle French

Rhymes for acrostic

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Frequently asked questions

What is an acrostic?
It is a poem or text where certain letters, often the first of each line, spell out a name or message.
How do you write an acrostic poem?
You choose a word or name, write it vertically down the page, and start each line with those letters in order.
Where does the word acrostic come from?
It came into English through Middle French from Late Latin and ultimately from Ancient Greek words meaning tip and line of verse.
What is the meaning of acrostic?
"acrostic" (noun) means a poem or piece of writing whose initial letters, read down the page, spell out a hidden name or message.