anzac
|an/zac|
/ˈænzæk/
Acronym for Australian & New Zealand Army Corps
Etymology
'anzac' originates from English, specifically the acronym 'ANZAC' formed from the initial letters of 'Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.'
'ANZAC' was coined during World War I (1915) as an uppercase acronym used in military records and reports; over time it entered general English as 'Anzac' (proper noun) and then as a common word and adjective in commemorative contexts.
Initially it meant 'the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps' or a member of that corps; over time it broadened to refer to the collective legacy, national identity, commemorations (Anzac Day), and adjectival uses.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an acronym for the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps; a member of that corps, especially soldiers who served in World War I; used to refer collectively to those soldiers or to an individual soldier.
Many anzacs fought at Gallipoli in 1915.
Synonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/09/13 17:56