Acronym Expander API

Overview

The Acronym Expander API resolves an acronym to its full meaning using a two-tier lookup: first checking a built-in dictionary of 28 common acronyms (technology, business, and general terms like API, CEO, FAQ), then falling back to an AI model when the input isn't in the dictionary. The `source` field on every response tells you which path was taken — `dictionary` for direct hits, `ai` for AI-generated expansions. Dictionary hits always return exactly one expansion; AI responses return up to three in descending order of likelihood. An optional `context` parameter (paid plans only) refines the AI path by biasing the model toward a specific domain — it has no effect on dictionary hits, which are deterministic and ignore context entirely.

To use Acronym Expander, you need an API key. You can get one by creating a free account and visiting your dashboard.

GET Endpoint

https://api.apiverve.com/v1/acronymexpander

Example

This request hits the built-in dictionary directly because `API` is one of the 28 pre-loaded acronyms — no AI call is made, and the response returns instantly with `source: "dictionary"`. The `expansions` array has exactly one entry and `most_common` is identical to `expansions[0]`, which is the standard shape for any dictionary hit. The `context_provided` field echoes back whatever you sent (here `"software"`) but is ignored for dictionary lookups; it only affects routing on AI responses. To exercise the AI path instead, pass an uncommon acronym like `MZK` or `XYZ` and watch the `source` field flip to `"ai"`.

curl -X GET \
  "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/acronymexpander?acronym=API&context=software" \
  -H "X-API-Key: your_api_key_here"

const response = await fetch('https://api.apiverve.com/v1/acronymexpander?acronym=API&context=software', {
  method: 'GET',
  headers: {
    'X-API-Key': 'your_api_key_here',
    'Content-Type': 'application/json'
  }
});

const data = await response.json();
console.log(data);

import requests

headers = {
    'X-API-Key': 'your_api_key_here',
    'Content-Type': 'application/json'
}

response = requests.get('https://api.apiverve.com/v1/acronymexpander?acronym=API&context=software', headers=headers)

data = response.json()
print(data)

package main

import (
    "fmt"
    "io"
    "net/http"

)

func main() {
    req, _ := http.NewRequest("GET", "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/acronymexpander?acronym=API&context=software", nil)

    req.Header.Set("X-API-Key", "your_api_key_here")
    req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/json")

    client := &http.Client{}
    resp, err := client.Do(req)
    if err != nil {
        panic(err)
    }
    defer resp.Body.Close()

    body, _ := io.ReadAll(resp.Body)
    fmt.Println(string(body))
}

{
  "status": "ok",
  "error": null,
  "data": {
    "acronym": "API",
    "expansions": [
      {
        "expansion": "Application Programming Interface",
        "description": "A set of protocols for building software",
        "category": "technology"
      }
    ],
    "most_common": {
      "expansion": "Application Programming Interface",
      "description": "A set of protocols for building software",
      "category": "technology"
    },
    "source": "dictionary",
    "context_provided": "software"
  }
}

Authentication

The Acronym Expander API requires authentication via API key. Include your API key in the request header:

X-API-Key: your_api_key_here

Learn more about authentication →

Interactive API Playground

Test the Acronym Expander API directly in your browser with live requests and responses.

Parameters

The following parameters are available for the Acronym Expander API:

Response

The Acronym Expander API returns responses in JSON, XML, YAML, and CSV formats. The JSON response is shown in the Example section above; alternative formats below.

Other Response Formats

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<response>
  <status>ok</status>
  <error xsi:nil="true" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"/>
  <data>
    <acronym>API</acronym>
    <expansions>
      <expansion>
        <expansion>Application Programming Interface</expansion>
        <description>A set of protocols for building software</description>
        <category>technology</category>
      </expansion>
    </expansions>
    <most_common>
      <expansion>Application Programming Interface</expansion>
      <description>A set of protocols for building software</description>
      <category>technology</category>
    </most_common>
    <source>dictionary</source>
    <context_provided>software</context_provided>
  </data>
</response>

status: ok
error: null
data:
  acronym: API
  expansions:
    - expansion: Application Programming Interface
      description: A set of protocols for building software
      category: technology
  most_common:
    expansion: Application Programming Interface
    description: A set of protocols for building software
    category: technology
  source: dictionary
  context_provided: software

Response Structure

All API responses follow a consistent structure with the following fields:

Learn more about response formats →

Response Data Fields

When the request is successful, the data object contains the following fields:

Headers

Only X-API-Key is required. Optional headers include Accept for response format negotiation (JSON, XML, or YAML), User-Agent, and X-Request-ID for request tracing. See all request headers →

GraphQL AccessALPHA

Access Acronym Expander through GraphQL to combine it with other API calls in a single request. Query only the acronym expander data you need with precise field selection, and orchestrate complex data fetching workflows.

Credit Cost: Each API called in your GraphQL query consumes its standard credit cost.

POST https://api.apiverve.com/v1/graphql

query {
  acronymexpander(
    input: {
      acronym: "API"
      context: "software"
    }
  ) {
    acronym
    expansions
    most_common {
      expansion
      description
      category
    }
    source
    context_provided
  }
}

Note: Authentication is handled via the x-api-key header in your GraphQL request, not as a query parameter.

CORS Support

The Acronym Expander API accepts cross-origin requests from any origin, so it can be called directly from browser-based applications without a proxy. See CORS support →

Rate Limiting

Acronym Expander requests are throttled per minute on the Free plan and unthrottled on paid plans. Exceeding the limit returns 429 Too Many Requests; rate-limit usage is reported in the X-RateLimit-Limit, X-RateLimit-Remaining, and X-RateLimit-Reset response headers. See per-plan limits and best practices →

Error Codes

The Acronym Expander API uses standard HTTP status codes — 200 on success, 400 for invalid parameters, 401 for missing or invalid keys, 403 for insufficient credits, 429 for rate-limit exhaustion, and 500/503 for server-side issues. Each error response includes an X-Request-ID header you can quote when contacting support. See full error handling guide →

SDKs for Acronym Expander

Official Acronym Expander packages on npm, PyPI, NuGet, and JitPack — plus a Postman collection and an OpenAPI spec. See the SDK guide →

JitPack

No-Code Integrations

Acronym Expander works with Zapier, Make, Pipedream, n8n, and Power Automate using the same API key. See setup guides →

Zapier

Make

Pipedream

n8n

Power Automate

Troubleshooting

Common issues developers encounter when integrating the Acronym Expander API and how to resolve them.

Frequently Asked Questions

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