Urban Legend definitions

Below is a growing list of words and phrases that are often used in speaking or writing about Urban Legends. If you would like to suggest an alternate or new definition, please feel free to contact me via the Feedback Page

Backronym
A phrase that appears to explain the meaning of an acronym (or a word that some claim began as an acronym), but which was invented after the word or acronym was first used. Also known as a ‘Retronym’.

In the wild
Urban Legend fans and researchers often talk about encountering one story or another ‘in the wild’. This generally means that they encountered the story while it was still in circulation and that it was being communicated in a form in which the audience is encouraged to believe that the story is true.

Variant
A variant is literally a different version of something. In the study of folklore it’s most often used to talk about a version of a story or tale that has some elements in common with other variants, as well as some elements that also make it unique or different.