Acronym Expander API

About the Acronym Expander API

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.

What people use it for

Document Processing

Automatically expand acronyms in documents and technical writing for improved readability

Content Understanding

Help readers understand technical content and jargon by expanding acronyms in context

Technical Documentation

Create glossaries and expand acronyms in technical documentation automatically

Learning Tools

Build educational tools that help users learn and understand acronyms in various domains

Ways to call it

One endpoint, many ways in — REST with JSON, XML, YAML and CSV, plus GraphQL and an MCP interface for AI agents.

JSON

Default REST response

XML

Markup format

YAML

Human-readable

CSV

Tabular export

Beta

GraphQL

Query language

New

MCP

For AI agents

Request parameters — GET /v1/acronymexpander

Sent in the query string. Premium parameters are accepted on every plan but only take effect on plans that include them. Anything not listed here is dropped rather than passed through.

Required

Optional

1
2

curl "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/acronymexpander?acronym=API&context=software" \
  -H "x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY"

Authentication

Send your key in the x-api-key header. That is the only auth step — no token exchange, and no per-endpoint scope to configure.

Response — GET /v1/acronymexpander

Every APIVerve endpoint returns the same three top-level keys, so one response handler covers your whole integration: status, error and data. Only data changes shape.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21

{
  "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 fields

Paths are relative to data. Premium fields are absent rather than zeroed on plans that do not include them, so check for presence instead of comparing to 0.

Response headers

Every response carries your balance, so your own code always knows where it stands without polling anything. All four are exposed to browsers through CORS.

Errors

Read the HTTP status first, then error for the specific reason. The body names the parameter that has to change.

What a call costs — 10 credits per call

Credits are shared across every APIVerve API — one balance, one key, one bill. Failed requests never count against it, so a rejected input costs nothing.

Calls are what the credits buy at this API's rate — spend them here, on any of the other APIs, or across both. Nothing is reserved per endpoint.

Zero-code embed — one snippet, no backend

Drop an interactive Acronym Expander form onto any page. The widget calls the API for you, so no key ever appears in your markup and there is nothing to deploy.

Changelog — Acronym Expander API

Every change to this endpoint, newest first. Breaking changes ship as a new version and the previous one keeps serving — response fields are added, never removed or retyped in place, so an integration written against v1 keeps working.

Currently v1