What is a retronym? Provide an example.

• A. A retronym is a newly coined term for a brand.
• B. A retronym is a term borrowed from another language and adopted widely.
• C. A retronym is a term used to describe a historical event.
• D. A retronym is a new name for an old object to distinguish it from a newer version (e.g., acoustic guitar).

Answer: (D)

A retronym is a new label given to an older version of something to distinguish it from a newer version that has appeared. It happens when technology or changes create a need for clarity about which version is being talked about. A classic example is "acoustic guitar"—people used to just say "guitar" until electric guitars existed, at which point the non-electric version needed a new name. Other examples include "analog clock" after digital clocks became common, or "landline" after mobile phones became widespread. This shows the idea isn’t about a brand, a loanword, or a historical event, but about renaming an existing object to avoid ambiguity.