Unlock hundreds more features
Save your Quiz to the Dashboard
View and Export Results
Use AI to Create Quizzes and Analyse Results

OR
Sign inSign in with Facebook
Sign inSign in with Google
Quizzes > English & Grammar

Acronym Trivia Questions: Test Your Abbreviation Smarts

Quick, free acronym quiz with answers. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Lisa BallardUpdated Aug 27, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for acronym trivia quiz on sky blue background

This acronym trivia quiz helps you decode everyday and obscure abbreviations, and learn a few you might have missed. You will see texting short forms, office and tech terms, plus some curveballs, with answers shown as you go. Want more practice? Try our abbreviation challenge or take the exam abbreviations quiz to sharpen your skills in test-focused terms.

What does the acronym NASA stand for?
National Aerospace Safety Association
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
North Atlantic Science Alliance
North American Space Agency
NASA stands for National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the United States government agency responsible for the civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research. It was established in 1958.
The FBI is an agency within which country's government?
United Kingdom
United States
Canada
Australia
FBI stands for Federal Bureau of Investigation, which is the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States. It operates under the U.S. Department of Justice.
In web development, what does HTML stand for?
HyperText Markup Language
HighText Machine Language
Hyperlink Media Language
HyperText Markdown Language
HTML stands for HyperText Markup Language. It is the standard markup language for documents designed to be displayed in a web browser.
What does USB stand for in computer connectors?
Unified System Bridge
Universal Serial Bus
Universal System Bus
Universal Serial Bridge
USB stands for Universal Serial Bus. It is an industry standard that establishes specifications for cables and connectors for communication and power supply between computers and devices.
What is the full form of ATM when referring to banking machines?
Auto Teller Mechanism
Automated Transaction Module
Automated Teller Machine
Automatic Transaction Machine
ATM stands for Automated Teller Machine, an electronic banking outlet that allows customers to complete basic transactions without the aid of a branch representative or teller.
What does PIN stand for in personal banking security?
Personal Information Number
Personal Identification Number
Personal Identity Number
Private Identification Number
PIN stands for Personal Identification Number, which is a numeric or alphanumeric password used to authenticate a user accessing a system, such as an ATM.
RADAR is an acronym. What does it stand for?
Radio Detection and Ranging
Radio Direction and Ranging
Remote Detection and Relay
Rapid Detection and Response
RADAR stands for Radio Detection and Ranging. It uses radio waves to determine the range, angle, or velocity of objects.
In internet slang, what does LOL stand for?
Laugh Out Loud
Low On Light
Lots Of Love
Live On Line
LOL stands for Laugh Out Loud. It's commonly used in digital communication to express amusement.
In databases, what does SQL stand for?
Simple Query Link
Sequential Question Language
Standard Query Layout
Structured Query Language
SQL stands for Structured Query Language, which is used for managing and manipulating relational databases.
What does JPEG stand for in image file formats?
Joint Photographic Experts Group
Junction Photo Expert Group
Joint Photo Electronics Guide
Joint Picture Experts Grid
JPEG stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group, the committee that created this commonly used method of lossy compression for digital images.
In computing, what does RAM stand for?
Read Access Memory
Rapid Access Module
Random Access Memory
Random Allocation Module
RAM stands for Random Access Memory, which is a form of computer memory that can be read and changed in any order, typically used to store working data and machine code.
GIF is a popular image format. What does it stand for?
Global Image File
Graphics Interchange Format
Graphics Internal Framework
Graphic Image Format
GIF stands for Graphics Interchange Format. It's a bitmap image format widely used on the web for its support of animations.
In networking, what does HTTP stand for?
High Transfer Text Protocol
HyperText Transfer Protocol
HyperText Transmission Protocol
Hyperlink Transfer Protocol
HTTP stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol. It's the foundation of data communication for the World Wide Web.
Wi-Fi is a trademarked term. What does it roughly stand for?
Wide Fidelity
Wireless File
Wide Field
Wireless Fidelity
Wi-Fi is a play on the term Hi-Fi (High Fidelity) and loosely stands for Wireless Fidelity. It refers to wireless networking technology.
Which acronym refers to a portable document format?
DOC
PDF
XLS
PPT
PDF stands for Portable Document Format, a file format developed by Adobe to present documents independent of application software, hardware, and operating systems.
What does the acronym SCUBA stand for?
Self-Controlled Underwater Bio Apparatus
Submerged Container Underwater Breathing Equipment
Self-Contained Utility Breathing Apparatus
Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus
SCUBA stands for Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus, referring to portable diving equipment that allows a diver to breathe underwater.
In military slang, what does SNAFU stand for?
Situation Normal: All Fouled Up
Situation Now Allows Full Use
Systems Now Acting Fully Unstable
Standards Not Applied: Functions Unusable
SNAFU stands for Situation Normal: All Fucked Up (often euphemized as 'Fouled Up'). It originated in the U.S. military during World War II.
What does AWOL stand for in military terms?
Away Without Official Leave
Absent Without Leave
Absent With Official Leave
Away With Official Leave
AWOL stands for Absent Without Leave, referring to a service member who is absent from their unit without official permission.
In computing, what does FIFO stand for?
File In, File Out
Find In, Find Out
First Input, Final Output
First In, First Out
FIFO stands for First In, First Out, a method for organizing and manipulating a data buffer, where the oldest entry is processed first.
MIME is used in email. What does it stand for?
Multiple Internet Mail Elements
Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions
Mail Internet Media Extensions
Multi-Image Mail Encoding
MIME stands for Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions. It extends the format of email to support text in character sets other than ASCII, attachments, and multimedia.
LDAP is a protocol used for directory services. What does it stand for?
Local Directory Access Protocol
Lightweight Data Access Protocol
Lightweight Directory Access Protocol
Linked Directory Access Procedure
LDAP stands for Lightweight Directory Access Protocol. It's used to access and maintain distributed directory information services over an Internet Protocol network.
SMTP is the standard protocol for sending emails. What does SMTP stand for?
Simple Mail Transport Procedure
Secure Mail Transaction Protocol
Secure Mail Transfer Procedure
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
SMTP stands for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. It's the Internet standard for email transmission.
POTUS is an acronym referring to which office?
Principal Officer of the United States
Public Officer of the United States
Prime Officer of the United States
President of the United States
POTUS stands for President of the United States. It's an acronym used in U.S. government and media.
In IT humor, what does BOFH stand for?
Bastard Operator From Hell
Buffer Overflow Fault Handler
Binary Operation File Hitch
Basic Operator File Handler
BOFH stands for Bastard Operator From Hell, a fictional character in IT folklore representing a rogue system administrator. The term was coined by Simon Travaglia.
What does IUPAC stand for in chemistry?
International Union of Physics and Applied Chemists
International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry
Institute for Unified Pure and Applied Chemistry
International University for Physics and Applied Chemistry
IUPAC stands for International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, the global authority on chemical nomenclature and terminology.
0
{"name":"What does the acronym NASA stand for?", "url":"https://www.quiz-maker.com/QPREVIEW","txt":"What does the acronym NASA stand for?, The FBI is an agency within which country's government?, In web development, what does HTML stand for?","img":"https://www.quiz-maker.com/3012/images/ogquiz.png"}

Study Outcomes

  1. Decode Everyday Acronyms -

    Learn to quickly expand and interpret common abbreviations like FBI, NASA, and CIA with accuracy during this acronym trivia challenge.

  2. Interpret Obscure Abbreviations -

    Hone your skills in deciphering lesser-known jargon and industry-specific acronyms featured in our acronym quiz.

  3. Recall Acronym Origins -

    Understand the historical and linguistic roots behind popular acronyms to deepen your grasp of their meanings.

  4. Differentiate Contextual Usage -

    Practice choosing the correct expansion for acronyms based on real-world scenarios and trivia acronyms in play.

  5. Apply Acronym Knowledge Confidently -

    Build the confidence to use, explain, and challenge friends with a wide range of acronyms in everyday conversation and quizzes.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Differentiate Initialisms and Acronyms -

    Understanding whether a term like FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) is an initialism or a true acronym, as defined by Merriam-Webster and the Oxford English Dictionary, is key for tricky acronym trivia. Initialisms are pronounced letter by letter while acronyms form new words, such as NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration). Mastering this distinction boosts your performance on any acronym quiz.

  2. Group by Domain for Faster Recall -

    Categorizing acronyms into fields like finance (e.g., ROI - Return on Investment) and medicine (e.g., MRI - Magnetic Resonance Imaging) leverages semantic networks noted in academic studies from the University of York. Grouping similar quiz acronyms helps you recognize patterns rapidly during trivia rounds. This method is backed by cognitive research published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology.

  3. Focus on High-Frequency Terms and Context -

    Tracking usage frequency with tools like Google Ngram or the Corpus of Contemporary American English highlights everyday acronyms such as ASAP (As Soon As Possible). Contextual clues in questions often hint at domain, improving recall of lesser-known trivia acronyms. This strategy mirrors vocabulary acquisition techniques from the American Psychological Association.

  4. Use Mnemonics and Chunking Techniques -

    Creating memory aids like "King Philip Came Over For Good Soup" to recall taxonomic ranks or chunking long strings like UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) makes retention easier. Research from Cornell University demonstrates that mnemonic devices dramatically improve recall in memory tests. Applying playful mnemonics also makes your acronyms trivia prep more engaging.

  5. Apply Spaced Repetition with Flashcards -

    Tools like Anki or Quizlet use spaced repetition algorithms endorsed by Harvard Medical School studies to help you review quiz acronyms at optimal intervals. Scheduling quick daily reviews ensures terms like EEG (Electroencephalogram) move into long-term memory. Consistent practice with spaced reviews has been shown to increase recall by over 200%.

Make a Quiz (FREE) Copy & Edit This Quiz Create a Quiz with AI

General Knowledge Trivia Quizzes

Powered by: Quiz Maker