When it comes to written or spoken language, shortened forms are often used as an abbreviation for longer words or phrases. However, the term "shortened form" can be interchanged with other words that convey a similar meaning. Synonyms for the said term may include "abbreviation," "contraction," "acronym," and "initialism." These words are all used to refer to shortened versions of words or phrases that make communication easier or faster. Other synonyms for the term also include "shorthand," "code," "symbol," and "sign." While the term can change based on the context of the conversation, all these synonyms come in handy in the realm of linguistics.