frankenword

English

Etymology

Blend of Frankenstein and word

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˈfɹæŋkn̩ˌwɜː(ɹ)d/, X-SAMPA: /"fr\{Nkn=%w3:(r\)d/
• (US) enPR: frăngkʹ(ə)n-wûrd', IPA: /ˈɹræŋk(ə)nˌwɝd/, X-SAMPA: /"fr\{Nk(@)n%w3`d/

Noun

frankenword (plural frankenwords)

1. (neologism) A word formed by combining two (or more) other words; a portmanteau.
   • 2005 December 15, Ruma Singh, “Know some good frankenwords?”, Bangalore Times:

     But what's noteworthy is the smorgasbord of new vocabulary, including 'frankenwords' (words joined to create new words) which deal with everyday situations.

   • 2007 February 1, M. Thelwall & R. Prabowo, “Identifying and characterising public science-related fears from RSS feeds”^[1], Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, volume 58, number 3: 

     Noun phrase identification is extremely time consuming and may incorrectly process new words that emerge during a debate, eg frankenwords invented during the genetically modified food debate.

   • 2009 Fall, Ann duCille, “Marriage, Family, and Other" Peculiar Institutions" in African-American Literary History”, American Literary History, volume 21, number 3, DOI:10.1093/alh/ajp016: 

     A combination of "salvation" and "sacrifice," the coinage "salvific" does not necessarily flow trippingly from the tongue, but the monograph hardly needs a frankenword to make the case for the enduring relationship between African-American letters and racial uplift.

Synonyms

• blend, portmanteau, portmanteau word

Related terms

• frankenfish
• frankenfood
• Frankenstein

Translations

portmanteau word — see portmanteau word

Alternative forms

• Frankenword