Is 'acronymise/ze' a word? Is it used only colloquially, if at all?

I just sent a text to a friend, who didn't understand an acronym I used for a game:

"Ah, I said it in a previous text so thought it was ok to abbreviate it."

Though, since it was an acronym I had created, could I have used the word 'acronymise/ze' to be more specific?

I'm pretty sure it isn't a (formally used) word, but I wondered, as you often refer to acronyms specifically as acronyms, rather than abbreviations. Can you be more specific with a verb, too?

It sounds too odd to me, so I'm guessing generally no. But I wondered—so perhaps I'm wrong. Or half wrong.

Solution 1:

acronymize

Alternative forms

acronymise (UK)

Etymology

From acronym +‎ -ize Verb

acronymize (third-person singular simple present acronymizes, present participle acronymizing, simple past and past participle acronymized) (transitive) To turn a phrase into an acronym.

You'll not find it in many dictionaries, however, and I only got 4+K hits on Google. My guess is that it is still slang.

Solution 2:

I have just used it (with an 's' since I am from the British Isles) and therefore it is a word. This is exactly how language develops.

Regards - John, linguist and educational consultant.