A retronym describes something old (retro) that once did not need a description. For example, snail mail is a retronym that describes “postal mail” which used to be the only way to send mail. However, today with e-mail (electronic mail) needs an extra description to help differentiate from the old form of mail.

Examples of computer retronyms

Below are some additional examples of computer-related retronyms.

  • 2D
  • AM radio
  • Analog clock
  • Computer virus
  • F2F (face to face)
  • Feature phone
  • Film camera
  • Forward slash
  • Handwritten
  • Hard copy
  • Hard disk (before floppy disks all computer-related disks were hard.)
  • Human computer
  • iPod classic
  • Landline
  • LED mouse
  • Mainframe computer
  • Manual typewriters
  • Mechanical disk (before flash drives and SSD all drives were mechanical.)
  • Mechanical mouse
  • Natural language
  • Offline (when describing meeting someone face to face in the real life.)
  • Optical zoom
  • Paper book
  • PATA (parallel ATA)
  • Plain text
  • POTS (plain old telephone system)
  • Real mode
  • RL (real-life)
  • Short file name

Acronym, Backronym, Computer acronyms, Obsolete

  • How to find old computer software.
  • What to do with an old computer.