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A retronym is a newly coined compound or modified phrase for an existing object or concept whose original name has become ambiguous due to subsequent technological advancements.
The term "retronym" was coined by Frank Mankiewicz in 1980 and popularized by William Safire in The New York Times Magazine. Before electric guitars existed, an acoustic guitar was simply called a "guitar". Before mobile cell phones were invented, a landline phone was simply a "phone". When the newer technology becomes the default, the older original requires a retroactive modifier to clarify which version is meant.
Explore words created to distinguish originals from modern technology:
Verified English words exemplifying retronyms (technological shift coinages) with Scrabble scores
Linguistic definitions, etymological origins, and tournament usage
A retronym is a modified term coined to distinguish an original object from newer technological variants that have claimed the original name, such as "acoustic guitar" or "landline".