Which of the following is a retronym example related to technology?

• A. Smartphone
• B. Digital camera
• C. Camcorder
• D. Webcam

Answer: (B)

A retronym is a name created for an existing thing after a newer version appears, to distinguish the old form from the new. Digital camera fits this precisely. Once cameras were primarily film-based, there wasn’t a need to call them something different. But as digital imaging became common, people started using “digital camera” to differentiate the digital version from the traditional film cameras. The term signals that an older variant already existed and needed a new label to set it apart.

The other terms don’t function as retronyms. They describe new device categories or blended labels rather than naming an older version to contrast with a newer one. A smartphone names a type of device, not an older form needing distinction. Camcorder and webcam are blends that describe the device’s function or form, not retroactively naming the original version to distinguish it from newer technology.