On last week’s Word Matters podast I learned “retronym.” A retronym is a word or phrase we make up to distinguish the old version of something from a newer version or form.
People didn’t say “rotary phone” until there was something other than rotary to choose from (i.e., touch-tone). We didn’t start saying “landline phone” until mobile phones became common. The terms “analog” or “offline” experience didn’t exist until we invented them as a verbal shortcut for non-online experiences. Other retronym examples include:
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Paperback book
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Film camera
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Print magazine
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Clean makeup/food
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In-person learning/event/meeting
What other retronyms have you seen come from the pandemic, or do you think will come out of it as we open up?
