English Abbreviations Dictionary Online
The table below shows the list of the most common abbreviations used in English. The right column contains the meanings of the abbreviations shown on the left.
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Letter A | |
| a | at; to, in algebra, known quantity, constant |
| A1 | first class |
| A | acre, America, American, April, argon |
| A | angstrom unit |
| AA | Alcoholics Anonymous, Associate of Arts, anti-aircraft |
| AAA | Agricultural Adjustment Administration, Amateur Athletic Association, American Automobile Association |
| AAAL | American Academy of Arts and Letters |
| AAAS | American Association for the Advancement Science |
| AAG | Assistant Adjutant General |
| A and M | agricultural and mechanical, ancient and modern |
| AAR | against all risks |
| AAU | Amateur Athletic Union |
| AAUP | American Association of University Professors |
| AAUW | American Association of University Women |
| AB | able-bodied seaman, airman basic. Alberta. [atriumbaccalaureus] bachelor of arts |
| ABA | American Bankers Association, American Bar Association, American Basketball Association, American Booksellers Association |
| abbr | abbreviation |
| ABC | American Bowling Congress, American Broadcasting Company, Australian Broadcasting Company |
| ABCD | accelerated business collection and delivery |
| abd, abdom | abdomen, abdominal |
| abl | ablative |
| abn | airborne |
| abp | archbishop |
| abr | abridged, abridgment |
| abs | Absolute, abstract |
| ABS | American Bible Society |
| abstr | abstract |
| abt | about |
| ac | account, acre |
| Ac | actinium |
| AC | air-conditioning, alternating current, (ante Christum) before Christ |
| acad | academic, academy |
| AC and U | Association of Colleges and Universities |
| acc | accusative |
| accel | accelerando |
| acct | account, accountant |
| accus | accusative |
| ACE | American Council on Education |
| ack | acknowledge, acknowledgment |
| ACLU | American Civil Liberties Union |
| ACP | American College of Physicians |
| acpt | acceptance |
| ACS | American Chemical Society, American College of Surgeons |
| act | active, actor, actual ACT American College Test, Association of Classroom Teachers, Australian Capital Territory |
| actg | acting |
| ACW | alternating continuous waves |
| AD | active duty, after date, (anno domini) in the year of our Lord |
| ad | advertisement |
| ADA | American Dental Association, average daily attendance |
| ADC | aide-de-camp. Air Defense Command |
| ADD | American Dialect Dictionary |
| addn | addition |
| addnl | additional |
| ADF | automatic direction finder |
| ADH | antidiuretic hormone |
| ad inf | to infinity (ad infinitum) |
| ad int | ad interim |
| ADIZ | air defense identification zone |
| adj | adjective, adjunct, adjustment, adjutant |
| ad loc | [ad locum] to or at the place |
| adm | administration, administrative |
| admin | administration |
| admrx | administratrix |
| ADP | automatic data processing |
| adv | advert, (adversus) against |
| ad val | ad valorem |
| advt | advertisement |
| AEC | Atomic Energy Commission |
| AEF | Atomic Energy Commission |
| AEF | American Expeditionary Force |
| aeq | (aequalis) equal |
| aero | aeronautical, aeronautics |
| aet or aetat | (aetatis) of age, aged |
| af | affix |
| AF | air force, audio frequency |
| Af | Africa, African |
| AFB | air force base |
| AFBS | American and Foreign Bible Society |
| AFC | American Football Conference, automatic frequency control |
| aff | affirmative |
| afft | affidavit |
| AFL | American Football League, American Federation of Labor |
| AFL-CIO | American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations |
| aft | afternoon |
| AFT | American Federation of Teachers, automatic fine tuning |
| AFTRA | American Federation of Television and Radio Artists |
| Ag | (L. argentum) silver |
| AG | adjutant general, attorney general |
| agcy | agency |
| AGR | advanced gas-cooled reactor |
| agr or agric | agricultural, agriculture |
| agt | agent |
| AHC | Army Hospital Corps |
| AHL | American Hockey League |
| AI | ad interim, artificial insemination, artificial intelligence |
| AIA | Associate of the Institute of Actuaries |
| AID | Agency for International Development |
| AIDS | acquired immune (or immuno-) deficiency syndrome |
| AIM | American Indian Movement |
| AIME | American Institute of Mining Engineers, Associate of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers |
| AK | Alaska |
| aka | also known as |
| AKC | American Kennel Club |
| AI | aluminium |
| AL | Alabama, American League, American Legion |
| Ala | Alabama |
| ALA | American Library Association |
| alc | alcohol |
| alk | alkaline |
| allo | allegro |
| alt | alternate, altitude |
| Alta | Alberta |
| alw | allowance |
| Am | America, American, americium |
| AM | (ante meridiem) before midday, (artium magister) master of arts |
| AMA | American Medical Association |
| AMD | Army Medical Department |
| Amer | America, American |
| Amer Ind | American Indian |
| Amn | airman |
| amp | ampere |
| amp hr | ampere-hour |
| AMS | Agricultural Marketing Service, Army Medical Staff |
| amnt | amount |
| AMU | atomic mass unit |
| AMVETS | American Veteran (of World : |
| AN | airman (Navy) |
| ANA | American Newspaper. Association, American Nurses Association |
| anat | anatomical, anatomy |
| ANC | Army Nurse Corps |
| Angl | Anglican |
| anhyd | anhydrous |
| ann | annals, annual |
| anon | anonymous |
| ANOVA | analysis of variance |
| AO | account of |
| AP | additional premium, antipersonnel, Associated Press, author's proof |
| APB | all points bulletin |
| APC | armored personnel carrier |
| API | air position indicator |
| APO | army post office |
| appl | applied |
| approx | approximate, approximately |
| appt | appoint, appointed, appointment |
| apptd | appointed |
| Apr | April |
| APR | annual percentage rate |
| apt | apartment, aptitude |
| aq | aqua, aqueous |
| Ar | argon |
| AR | accounts receivable, acknowledgement of receipt, all risks, Arkansas |
| ARC | American Red Cross |
| arch | archaic, architect, architecture |
| Arch | Archbishop |
| arg | argent, argument |
| arith | arithmetic, arithmetical |
| Ariz | Arizona |
| Ark | Arkansas |
| ARP | air-raid precautions |
| arr | arranged, arrival, arrive |
| art | article, artificial |
| As | arsenic |
| AS | after sight, American Samoa. Anglo-Saxon |
| ASA | American Standards Association |
| ASAP | as soon as possible |
| asb | asbestos |
| ASCAP | American Society of Computers, Authors and Publishers |
| ASCU | Association of State Colleges and Universities |
| ASF | American Stock Exchange |
| ASEAN | Association of Southeast Asian Nations |
| ASI | airspeed indicator |
| ASL | American Sign Language |
| ASR | airport surveillance radar, air-sea rescue |
| assn | association |
| assoc | associate, associated, association |
| ASSR | Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic |
| asst | assitant |
| Assyr | Assyrian |
| ATS | American Tract Society, American Temperance Society |
| astrol | astrologer, astrology |
| astron | astronomer, astronomy |
| ASV | American Standard Version |
| Atl | Atlantic |
| atm | atmosphere, atmospheric |
| attn | attention |
| atrib | attributive, attributively |
| AUA | American Unitarian Association |
| Au | [aurum] gold |
| aud | audit, auditor |
| Aug | August |
| Aus | Austria, Austrian, Australia, Australian |
| AUS | Army of the United States |
| Austral | Australia |
| auth | authentic, authorized |
| auto | automatic |
| av | avenue, average, avoirdupois |
| AV | ad valorem, audiovisual, Authorized Version |
| AVC | automatic volume control |
| avdp | avoirdupois |
| ave | avenue |
| avg | average |
| AWACS | airborne warning and control system |
| AYC | American Youth Congress |
| AYD | American Youth for Democracy |
| AZ | Arizona |
| Letter B | |
| B | boron |
| Ba | barium |
| BA | Bachelor of Arts |
| BAEd | Bachelor of Arts in Education |
| BAg | Bachelor of Agriculture |
| bal | balance |
| B and B | bed-and-breakfast |
| b and w | black and white |
| Bapt | Baptist |
| bar | barometer, barometric |
| BAr | Bachelor of Architecture |
| BAS | Bachelor of Agricultural Science, Bachelor of Applied Science |
| Bart | baronet |
| BBC | British Broadcasting Corporation |
| bbl | barrel, barrels |
| BC | before Christ, British Columbia |
| BCD | binary-coded decimal |
| BCh | Bachelor of Chemistry |
| bcn | beacon |
| BCSE | Board of Civil Service Examiners |
| bd ft | board foot |
| bdl or bdle | bundle |
| bdrm | bedroom |
| Be | beryllium |
| BE | Bachelor of Education, Bachelor of Engineering, bill of exchange |
| BEC | Bureau of Employees' Compensation |
| BEd | Bachelor of Education |
| BEF | British Expeditionary Force |
| beg | begin, beginning |
| Belg | Belgian, Belgium |
| BEM | British Empire Medal |
| BEngr | Bachelor of Engineering |
| BFA | Bachelor of Fine Arts |
| BG or B Gen | brigadier general |
| BH | bill of health |
| bhd | bulkhead |
| BHE | Bureau of Higher Education |
| bhp | bishop |
| BIA | Bachelor of Industrial Arts, Braille Institute of America, Bureau of Indian Affairs |
| bib | Bible, biblical |
| biog | biographer, biographical, biography |
| biol | biologic, biological, biologist, biology |
| bk | bank, book |
| Bk | berkelium |
| bkg | banking, bookkeeping, breakage |
| bkgd | background |
| bks | barracks |
| bkt | basket, bracket |
| bl | bale, barrel, block |
| BL | Bachelor of Law, Bachelor of Letters, bill of lading, breadth/length bldg building |
| bldg | building |
| bldr | builder |
| Blitt or BLit | (baccalaureus litterarum) Bachelor of Letters, Bachelor of Literature |
| blk | black, block, bulk |
| blvd | boulevard |
| BMR | basal metabolic rate |
| BNDD | Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs |
| BO | back order, body odor, branch office, buyer's option |
| BOD | biochemical oxygen demand, biological oxygen demand |
| bor | borough |
| bot | botanical, botanist, botany, bottle, bottom, bought |
| BP | bills payable, blood pressure, blueprint, boiling point |
| BPD | barrels per day |
| bpi | bits per inch, bytes per inch |
| Br | Britain, British, bromine |
| BR | bills receivable |
| brig | brigade, brigadier |
| Brig Gen | brigadier general |
| Brit | Britain, British |
| brl | barrel |
| bro | brother, brothers |
| bros | brothers |
| BS | Bachelor of Science, balance sheet, bill of sale, British Standard |
| BSA | Boy Scouts of America |
| BSI | British Standards Institution |
| bskt | basket |
| Bt | baronet |
| btry | battery |
| Btu | British thermal unit |
| bu | bureau, bushel |
| bur | bureau |
| bus | business |
| BV | Blessed Virgin |
| BW | bacteriological warfare, biological warfare, black and white |
| BWI | British West Indies |
| BYO | bring your own |
| Letter C | |
| C | carbon |
| ca | circa |
| Ca | calcium |
| CA | California, chartered accountant, chief accountant |
| CAB | Civil Aeronautics Board |
| CAD | computer-aided design |
| CAF | cost and freight |
| CAGS | Certificate Advanced Graduate Study |
| CAI | computer-aided instruction, computer-associated instruction |
| cal | calendar, caliber, calorie, small calorie |
| Cal | California, large calorie |
| calc | calculate, calculated |
| Calif | California |
| CAM | computer-aided manufacturing |
| can | canceled, cancellation |
| Can or Canad | Canada, Canadian |
| cane | canceled |
| C and F | cost and freight |
| C and W | country and western |
| cap | capacity, capital, capitalize |
| CAP | Civil Air Patrol |
| caps | capitals, capsule |
| Capt | captain |
| card | cardinal |
| CAS | certificate of advanced study |
| cat | catalog, catalyst |
| cath | cathedral, cathode |
| CATV | community antenna television |
| caus | causative |
| cav | cavalry, cavity |
| Cb | columbium |
| CBC | Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |
| CBD | cash before delivery |
| CBI | computer-based instruction, Cumulative Book Index |
| CBS | Columbia Broadcasting System |
| CBW | chemical and biological warfare |
| cc | cubic centimeter |
| CC | carbon copy, chief clerk |
| CCF | Cooperative Commonwealth Federation (of Canada) |
| cckw | counterclockwise |
| CCTV | closed-circuit television |
| CCU | cardiac care unit, coronary care unit, critical care unit |
| ccw | counterclockwise |
| cd | candela |
| Cd | cadmium |
| CD | carried down, certificate of deposit, civil defense, (corps diplomatique) diplomatic corps |
| CDD | certificate of disability for discharge edg commanding |
| CDR | commander |
| CDT | central daylight time |
| Ce | cerium |
| ce | chemical engineer, civil engineer |
| CEA | College English Association, Council of Economic Advisors |
| CED | Committee for Economic Development |
| cem | cement |
| cent | centigrade, central, centium, century |
| Cent | Central |
| CENTO | Central Treaty Organization |
| CEO | chief executive officer |
| CER | conditioned emotional response |
| cert | certificate, certified |
| CETA | Comprehensive Employment and Training Act |
| cf | (confer) compare |
| Cf | californium |
| CF | carried forward, cost and freight, cystic fibrosis |
| CFI | cost, freight, and insurance |
| cfm | cubic feet per minute |
| cfs | cubic feet per second |
| CG | center of gravity, coast guard, commanding general |
| cg or cgm | centigram |
| CGT | (Confederation Generate du Travail) GeneralConfederation of Labor |
| ch | chain, chapter, church |
| CH | clearinghouse, courthouse, customhouse |
| chan | channel |
| chap | chapter |
| chem | chemical, chemist, chemistry |
| chg | change, charge |
| chm | chairman, checkmate |
| Chmn | chairman |
| chron | chronicle, chronological, chronology |
| Ci | curie |
| CI | certificate of insurance, cost and insurance |
| CIA | Central Intelligence Agency |
| CIC | Commander in Chief |
| CID | Criminal Investigation Department |
| cie | (compagnie) company |
| CIF | cost, insurance and freight |
| C in C | commander in chief |
| CIP | Cataloging in Publication |
| cir | circle, circuit, circumference |
| circ | circular |
| cit | citation, cited, citizen |
| civ | civil, civilian |
| CJ | chief justice |
| ck | cask, check |
| cl | centiliter, class |
| CI | chlorine |
| CL | center line, civil law, common law |
| cld | called, cleared |
| Clev | Cleveland |
| clin | clinical |
| clk | clerk |
| clr | clear, clearance |
| CLU | chartered life underwriter |
| cm | centimeter, cumulative |
| Cm | curium |
| CMA | certified medical assistant |
| cmd | command |
| cmdg | commanding |
| cmdr | commander |
| CMg | Companion of the Order of St Michael and ST George |
| cml | commercial |
| CMSgt | chief master sergeant |
| CN | credit note |
| CNO | chief of naval operations |
| CNS | central nervous system |
| co | company, county |
| Co | cobalt |
| CO | cash order, Colorado, commanding officer, conscientious objector |
| c/o | care of |
| cod | codex |
| COD | cash on delivery |
| C of S | chief of staff |
| col | color, colored, column |
| col or coll | collateral, college |
| Col | colionel, Colorado |
| COL | colonel, cost of living |
| collat | collateral |
| colloq | colloquial |
| Colo | Colorado |
| comb | combination, combined |
| comd | command |
| comdg | commanding |
| comdr | commander |
| comdt | commandant |
| COMECON | Council for Mutual Economic Assistance |
| coml | commercial |
| comm | command, commerce, commission, committee, communication |
| commo | commodore |
| comp | compare, complex |
| compd | compound |
| comr | commissioner |
| cone | concentrate, concentrated |
| conf | conference, confidential |
| Confed | Confederate |
| cong | congress, congressional |
| Conn | Connecticut |
| consol | consolidated |
| cont | containing, contents, continent, continued |
| contd | continued |
| contg | containing |
| contrib | contribution, contributor |
| CORE | Congress of Racial Equality |
| corp | corporal, corporation |
| corr | correct, corrected, corresponding |
| cos | cosine |
| COS | cash on shipment, chief of staff |
| cp | compare, coupon |
| CP | candlepower, charter party, communist party |
| CPA | certified public accountant |
| CPB | Corporation for Public Broadcasting |
| CPCU | chartered property and casualty underwriter |
| cpd | compound |
| CPFF | cost plus fixed fee |
| CPI | consumer price index |
| Cpl | corporal |
| CPO | chief petty officer |
| CPOM | master chief petty officer |
| CPOS | senior chief petty officer |
| CPS | characters per second, cycle per second |
| CPT | captain |
| cpu | central processing unit |
| Cr | chrome urn |
| CR | carrier's risk, cathode ray |
| CRC | Civil Rights Commission |
| cresc | crescendo |
| crim | criminal |
| crit | critical, criticism, criticized |
| CRT | cathode-ray tube |
| cryst | crystalline, crystallized |
| Cs | cesium |
| CS | capital stock, chief of staff, Christian Science, civil service |
| C/S | cycles per second |
| CSA | Confederate States of America |
| CSC | Civil Service Commission |
| CSM | command sergeant major |
| CSO | chief signal officer, chief staff officer |
| CST | central standard time |
| ct | carat, cent, count, county, court |
| CT | central time, certificated teacher, Connecticut |
| CTC | centralized traffic control |
| ctf | certificate |
| ctg or ctge | cartage |
| ctn | carton |
| cto | concerto |
| c to c | center to center |
| ctr | center, counter |
| cu | cubic, cumulative |
| Cu | (cuprum) copper |
| CU | close-up |
| cum | cumulative |
| cur | currency, current |
| CV | cardiovascular, curriculum vitae |
| cvt | convertible |
| cw | clockwise |
| CW | chemical warfare, chief warrant officer |
| CWO | cash with order, chief warrant officer |
| cwt | hundred weight |
| CY | calendar year |
| cyl | cylinder |
| CYO | Catholic Youth Organization |
| CZ | Canal Zone |
| Letter D | |
| d | deceased, penny |
| D | Democrat, deuterium |
| da | deka- |
| DA | days after acceptance, deposit account, district attorney |
| DAB | Dictionary of American Biography |
| dag | dekagram |
| dal | dekaliter |
| dam | dekameter |
| DAR | Daughters of the American Revolution |
| dat | dative |
| DAV | Disabled American Veterans |
| db | debenture |
| db or dB | decibel |
| DB | daybook |
| DBE | Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire |
| dbl | double |
| DBMS | data base management system |
| DC | direct current, District of Columbia |
| dd | dated, delivered |
| DD | days after date, demand draft, dishonorable discharge, due date |
| DDC | Dewey Decimal Classification |
| DDD | direct distance dialing |
| DDS | Doctor of Dental Science, Doctor of Dental Surgery |
| DE | Delaware deb debenture |
| dec | deceased, declaration, declared, decorative, decrease |
| Dec | December |
| def | defendant, defense, deferred, defined, definite |
| deg | degree |
| del | delegate, delegation, delete |
| Del | Delaware |
| dely | delivery |
| dem | demonstrative, demurrage |
| Dem | Democrat, Democratic |
| Den | Denmark |
| dent | dental, dentist, dentistry |
| dep | depart, department, departure, deposit, depot, deputy |
| dept | department |
| der or deriv | derivation, derivative |
| DEW | distant early warning |
| DF | damage free, direction finder |
| DFC | Distinguished Flying Cross |
| DFM | Distinguished Flying Medal |
| dft | defendant, draft |
| dg | decigram |
| DG | director general, (Deigratia) by the grace of God |
| dia | diameter |
| diag | diagonal, diagram dial dialect |
| diam | diameter diet dictionary |
| dim | diminutive |
| dip | diploma |
| dir | director |
| disc | discount |
| dist | distance, district |
| distr | distribute, distribution |
| div | dividend, division |
| DJ | disc jockey, district judge, Doctor of Jurisprudence |
| DJIA | Dow-Jones Industrial Average |
| dkg | dekagram |
| dkl | dekaliter |
| dkm | dekameter |
| dl | deciliter |
| DLitt or DLit | (doctor litterarum) Doctor of Letters, Doctor of Literature |
| DLO | dead letter office, dispatch loading only |
| dm | decimeter |
| DM | deutsche Mark |
| DMZ | demilitarized zone |
| dn | down |
| DNB | Dictionary of National Biography |
| do | ditto |
| DOA | dead on arrival |
| DOB | date of birth |
| doc | document |
| DOD | Department of Defense |
| DOE | Department of Energy |
| dol | dollar |
| DOM | (Deo optimo maxima) to God, the best and the greatest |
| DOS | disk operating system |
| DOT | Department of Transportation |
| doz | dozen |
| DP | data processing, dew point |
| DPH | department of public health |
| dr | dram |
| Dr | doctor |
| DR | dead reckoning |
| DSM | Distinguished Service Medal |
| DSO | Distinguished Service Order |
| DSP | (decessit sine prole) died without issue |
| DST | daylight time, double time |
| dup | duplex, duplicate |
| DV | (Deo volente) God willing |
| DVM | Doctor of Veterinary Medicine |
| DW | deadweight |
| dwt | deadweight ton, pennyweight |
| DX | distance |
| dy | delivery, deputy, duty |
| Dy | dysprosium |
| dynam | dynamics |
| Letter E | |
| ea | each |
| E | Earl, Easter, English |
| E and OE | errors and omissions excepted |
| EB | eastbound |
| eccl | ecclesiastic, ecclesiastical |
| ECG | electrocardiogram |
| ECM | European Common Market |
| ecol | ecological, ecology |
| econ | economics, economist, economy |
| ed | edited, edition, editor, education |
| EDP | electronic data processing |
| EDT | eastern daylight time |
| educ | education, educational |
| EEC | European Economic Community |
| EEG | electroencephalogram, electroencephalograph |
| EENT | eye, ear, nose, and throat |
| EEO | equal employment opportunity |
| eff | efficiency |
| EFT or EFTS | electronic funds transfer (system) |
| eg | (exempli gratia) for example |
| EHF | extremely high frequency |
| EHP | effective horsepower, electric horsepower |
| EHV | extra high voltage |
| elec | electric, electrical, electricity |
| elem | elementary |
| elev | elevation |
| ELF | extremely low frequency |
| ELSS | extravehicular life support system |
| EM | electromagnetic, electron microscope |
| emer | emeritus |
| emf | electromotive force |
| emp | emperor, empress |
| enc or encl | enclosure |
| ENE | east-northeast |
| eng | engine, engineer, engineering |
| Eng | England, English |
| ENS | ensign |
| env | envelope |
| EO | executive order |
| EOM | end of month |
| EP | extended play |
| EPA | Environmental Protection Agency |
| eq | equal, equation |
| equip | equipment |
| equiv | equivalency, equivalent |
| Er | erbium |
| Es | einsteinium |
| ESE | east-southeast |
| ESL | English as a second language |
| esp | especially |
| Esq | esquire |
| est | established, estimate, estimated |
| EST | eastern standard time |
| esu | electrostatic unit |
| ESV | earth satellite vehicle |
| ET | eastern time, extra-terrestrial |
| ETA | estimated time of arrival |
| et al | et alii (masc.), et aliae (fem.) or et alia (neut.) and others |
| etc | et cetera, and the rest |
| ETD | estimated time of departure |
| ETO | European theater of operations |
| et seq | (et sequens) and the following one |
| et ux | (et uxor) and wife |
| Eu | europium |
| Eur | Europe, European |
| EVA | extravehicular activity |
| ex | example, exchange, excluding, executive, express, extra |
| exch | exchange, exchanged |
| exec | executive |
| exhbn | exhibition |
| exor | executor |
| expy | expressway |
| ext | extension, exterior, external |
| Letter F | |
| f | Fahrenheit, farad, faraday, and the following one |
| F | fluorine |
| FA | field artillery, fielding average, football association |
| FAA | Federal Aviation Administration, free of all average |
| fac | facsimile, faculty |
| FADM | fleet admiral |
| fam | familiar, family |
| F and A | fore and aft |
| FAO | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |
| FAQ | fair average quality far farthing |
| FAS | free alongside ship |
| fath | fathom |
| FBI | Federal Bureau of Investigation |
| FCA | Farm Credit Administration |
| FCC | Federal Communications Commission |
| fcp | foolscap |
| FDA | Food and Drug Administration |
| FCIC | Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation |
| Fe | (ferrum) iron |
| Feb | February |
| fee | (fecit) he made it |
| fed | federal, federation |
| fern | female, feminine |
| FERA | Federal Emergency Relief Administration |
| ff | folios, and the following ones, fortissimo |
| FHA | Federal Housing Administration |
| fict | fiction, fictitious |
| FIFO | first in, first out |
| fig | figurative, figuratively, figure |
| fin | finance, financial, finish |
| FIO | free in and out |
| fir | firkin |
| fl | florin (floruit) flourished |
| FL | Florida |
| Fla | Florida |
| fl oz | fluid ounce |
| FLSA | Fair Labor Standards Act |
| fm | fathom |
| Fm | fermium |
| FM | field manual |
| FMB | Federal Maritime Board |
| FMCS | Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service |
| fn | footnote |
| fo or fol | folio |
| FO | foreign office |
| FOB | free on board |
| FOC | free of charge |
| fp | freezing point |
| FPA | Foreign Press Association, free of particular average |
| FPC | Federal Power Commission |
| fps | feet per second, foot-pound-second, frames per second |
| fr | father, franc, from |
| Fr | francium |
| freq | frequency |
| Fri | Friday |
| FRS | Federal Reserve System |
| frt | freight |
| frwy | freeway |
| FS | Foreign Service |
| FSLIC | Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation |
| FSP | Food Stamp Program |
| ft | feet, foot |
| FTC | Federal Trade Commission |
| fth | fathom |
| ft lb | foot-pound |
| fur | furlong |
| fut | future |
| fwd | foreword, forward |
| FWD | front-wheel drive |
| FX | foreign exchange |
| FY | fiscal year |
| FYI | for your information |
| fz | (forzando, forzato) accented |
| Letter G | |
| g | gauge, gold, grain, acceleration of gravity, gram, gravity |
| Ga | gallium, Georgia |
| GA | general assembly, general average, Georgia |
| gal | gallery, gallon |
| galv | galvanized |
| GAO | General Accounting Office |
| gar | garage |
| GATT | General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade |
| GAW | guaranteed annual wage |
| gaz | gazette |
| GB | Great Britain |
| GCA | ground-controlled approach |
| GCB | Knight Grand Cross of the Bath |
| Gd | gadolinium |
| GDR | German Democratic Republic |
| Ge | germanium |
| GE | gilt edges |
| gen | general, genitive, genus |
| Gen AF | general of the air force |
| Gent | gentleman, gentlemen |
| genl | general |
| geog | geographic, geographical, geography |
| geol | geologic, geological, geology |
| geom | geometric, geometrical, geometry |
| ger | gerund |
| GGPA | graduate grade-point average |
| GHQ | general headquarters |
| GI | gastrointestinal, general issue, government issue |
| GM | general manager, grand master, guided missile |
| GMT | Greenwich mean time |
| GMW | gram-molecular weight |
| gn | guinea |
| GNI | Gross national income |
| GNP | gross national product |
| GO | general order |
| GOP | Grand Old Party (Republican) |
| gov | government, governor |
| govt | government gp group |
| GP | general practice |
| GPD | gallons per day |
| GPH | gallons per hour |
| GPM | gallons per minute |
| GPO | general post office, Government Printing Office |
| GPS | gallons per second |
| gr | grade, grain, gram, gravity, gross |
| grad | graduate, graduated |
| gram | grammar, grammatical |
| gro | gross |
| gr wt | gross weight |
| GSA | General Services Administration, Girl Scouts of America |
| GSC | general staff corps |
| GSO | general staff officer |
| GSV | guided space vehicle |
| GT | gross ton |
| Gt | Brit Great Britain |
| gtd | guaranteed |
| gyn | gynecology |
| Letter H | |
| ha | hectare |
| hab | corp habeas corpus |
| Hb | hemoglobin |
| he | (honoris causa) for the sake of honor |
| HC | Holy Communion, House of Commons |
| HCF | highest common factor |
| hd | head |
| HD | heavy duty |
| hdbk | handbook |
| He | helium |
| HE | Her Excellency, His Excellency |
| HEW | Department of Health, Education and Welfare |
| hf | half |
| Hf | hafnium |
| HF | high frequency |
| hg | hectogram |
| Hg | (hydrargyrum) mercury |
| HH | Her Highness, His Highness, His Holinss |
| HI | Hawaii |
| Hind | Hindustani |
| hist | historian, historical, history |
| hi | hectoliter |
| HL | House of Lords |
| hld | hold |
| HLS | (hoc loco situs) laid in this place, holograph letter signed |
| hlt | halt |
| hm | hectometer |
| HM | Her Majesty, Her Majesty's, His Majesty, His Majesty's |
| HMC | Her Majesty's Customs, His Majesty’s Customs |
| HMS | Her Majesty's ship, His Majesty's ship |
| HN | head nurse |
| Ho | holmium |
| hon | honor, honorable, honorary |
| hor | horizontal |
| hort | horticultural, horticulture |
| hosp | hospital |
| HP | high pressure, hire purchase, horsepower |
| HQ | headquarters |
| hr | hour |
| HR | House of Representatives |
| HRH | Her Royal Highness, His Royal Highess |
| HRIP | here rests in peace |
| hrzn | horizon |
| HS | high school |
| HSGT | high-speed ground transport |
| HST | Hawaiian standard time |
| ht | height |
| HUD | Department of Housing and Urban Development |
| HV | high velocity, high-voltage |
| hvy | heavy |
| HWM | high-water mark |
| hwy | highway |
| Hz | hertz |
| Letter I | |
| Ia or IA | Iowa |
| IAAF | International Amateur Athletic Federation |
| IABA | International Amateur Boxing Association |
| IAEA | International Atomic Energy Agency |
| OALC | instrument approach and landing chart |
| IATA | International Air Transport Association |
| Ib or ibid | ibidem |
| IBM | intercontinental ballistic missile |
| IBRD | International Bank for Reconstruction and Delopment |
| ICA | International Cooperation Administration, International Cooperative Alliance |
| ICAO | International Civil Aviation Organization |
| ICBM | intercontinental ballistic missile |
| ICC | Indian Claims Commission, International Chamber of Commerce, Interstate Commerce Commission |
| ICFTU | International Confederation of Free Trade Unions |
| ICJ | International Court of Justice |
| ICRC | International Committee of the Red Cross |
| ICU | intensive care unit |
| id | idem |
| ID | Idaho, identification |
| i e | (id est) that is |
| IFC | International Finance Corporation |
| IG | inspector general |
| Il | Illinois |
| ill | illustrated, illustration, illustrator |
| IL | Illinois |
| ilust or illus | illustrated, illustration |
| ILO | International Labor Organization |
| ILS | instrument landing system |
| IMF | International Monetary Fund |
| imit | imitative |
| immun | immunity, immunization |
| imp | imperative, imperfect, import |
| in | inch |
| In | Indiom |
| inc | including, incorporated, increase |
| incl | including, inclusive |
| incog | incognito |
| ind | independent, industrial, industry |
| Ind | Indian, Indiana |
| inf | infantry, infinitive |
| infl | influenced |
| inq | enquire |
| INRI | (Jesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum) Jesus of Nazareth |
| ins | inches, insurance |
| INS | Immigration and Naturalization Service |
| intl or intnl | international |
| intrans | intransitive |
| in trans | (in transitu) in transit |
| intsv | intensive |
| IOC | International Olympic Committee |
| IPA | International Phonetic Alphabet, International Phonetic Association |
| ipm | inches per minute |
| IPPF | International Planned Parenthood Federation |
| ips | inches per second |
| iq | (idem quod) the same as |
| Ir | iridium |
| IR | infrared, inland revenue, intelligence ratios, internal revenue |
| IRA | Irish Republican Army |
| IRBM | intermediate range ballistic missile |
| irreg | irregular |
| IRS | Internal Revenue Service |
| ISBN | International Standard Book Number |
| ISC | interstate commerce |
| ISSN | International Standard Serial Number |
| ital | italic, italicized |
| ITO | International Trade Organization |
| IU | international unit |
| IV | intravenous, intravenously |
| IWW | Industrial Workers of the World |
| Letter j | |
| j | joule |
| JA | joint account, judge advocate |
| JAG | judge advocate general |
| Jan | January |
| Jap | Japan, Japanese |
| Jav | Javanese |
| JBS | John Birch Society |
| JCS | joint chiefs of staff |
| jct | junction |
| JD | justice department, juvenile delinquent, (juris doctor) doctor of jurisprudence, doctor of law |
| JP | justice of the peace |
| Jr | junior |
| jt or jnt | joint |
| jun | junior |
| Jun | June |
| junc | junction |
| juris | jurisprudence |
| juv | juvenile |
| Letter K | |
| k | karat, kilogram, king, knight, kopeck, krona, kronor |
| K | (kalium) potassium, Kelvin |
| Kan or Kans | Kansas |
| kb or kbar | kilobar |
| KB | kilobyte |
| KC | Kansas City, King's Counsel, Knights of Columbus |
| kcal | kilocalorie, kilogram calorie |
| KCB | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath |
| kc/s | kilocycles per second |
| KD | knocked down |
| Ken | Kentucky |
| kg | kilogram |
| KG | Knight of the Order of the Garter |
| KGB | (Komitet Gosudarstvennoi Bezopasnosti) (Soviet) State Security Committee |
| kHz | kilohertz |
| KIA | killed in action |
| KJV | King James Version |
| KKK | Ku Klux Klan |
| kl | kiloliter |
| km | kilometer |
| KMPS | kilometers per second |
| kn | knot |
| K of C | Knights of Columbus |
| kpfa | kilometers per hour |
| Kr | Krypton |
| KS | Kansas |
| kt | karat, knight |
| kv | kilovolt |
| kw | kilowatt |
| kwhr or kwh | kilowatt-hour |
| Ky or KY | Kentucky |
| Letter L | |
| L | lady, lake, land, latitude, law, leaf, league, left, length, liberal, lira, liter, lodge, lord |
| La | lanthanum, Louisiana |
| LA | law agent, Los Angeles, Louisiana |
| Lab | Labrador |
| lam | laminated |
| lang | language |
| lat | latitude |
| Lat | Latin, Latvia |
| LAT | local apparent time |
| lb | (libra) pound |
| LB | Labrador |
| lc | lowercase |
| LC | landing craft, letter of credit, Library of Congress |
| LCD | lowest common denominator |
| LCF | lowest common factor |
| LCJ | Lord Chief Justice |
| LCM | lowest common multiple |
| LD | lethal dose |
| LDC | less developed country |
| ldg | landing, loading |
| LDS | Latter-day Saints |
| lect | lecture, lecturer |
| leg | legal, legislative, legislation |
| legis | legislation, legislative, legislature |
| lex | lexicon lexicog lexicography |
| LF | low frequency |
| lg | large, long |
| LH | left hand |
| Li | lithium |
| LI | Long Island |
| lib | liberal, librarian, theory |
| lieut | lieutenant |
| LIFO | last in, first out |
| lin | lineal, linear |
| ling | linguistics |
| liq | liquid, liquor |
| lit | liter, literal, literally, literary, literature |
| lith | lithographic, lithography |
| ll | lines |
| LL | limited liability |
| LM | Legion of Merit, lunar module |
| LMT | local mean time |
| lndg | landing |
| LNG | liquefied natural gas |
| loc cit | (loco citato) in the place cited |
| LP | low pressure |
| LPG | liquified petroleum gas |
| LPGA | Ladies Professional Golf Association |
| Lr | lawrencium |
| LS | (locus sigilli) place of the seal |
| LSS | lifesaving station, life-support system |
| Lt | lieutenant |
| LT | long ton |
| LTC or Lt Col | lieutenant colonel |
| Lt | Comdr lieutenant commander |
| ltd | limited |
| LTG or Lt Gen | lieutenant general |
| It gov | lieutenant governor |
| LTJG | lieutenant, junior grade |
| Lu | lutetium |
| lub | lubricant, lubricating |
| LVT | landing vehicle, tracked |
| LWM | low-water mark |
| LWV | League of Women Voters |
| LZ | landing zone |
| Letter M | |
| MA | Master of Arts |
| MB | Bachelor of Medicine |
| MBA | Master of Business Administration |
| MBO | management buyout |
| MC | Master of Ceremonies |
| MD | Doctor of Medicine |
| MFA | Master of Fine Arts |
| Mgr | Monseigneur, Monsignor |
| MP | Member of Parliament |
| mph | miles per hour |
| MIA | missing in action |
| Miss | a title for an unmarried woman |
| MLR | minimum lending rate |
| MO | Medical Officer, money order |
| Mr | Mister |
| Mrs | Missis |
| Ms | a title for a woman |
| MS | multiple sclerosis |
| MSc (MS in AE) | Master of Science |
| MVP | Most Valuable Player |
| MYOB | mind your own business |
| Letter N | |
| N/A, (NA in AE) | not applicable |
| NASA | National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| NATO | North Atlantic Treaty Organization |
| NBA | National Basketball Association |
| NBA | Net Book Agreement |
| NBC | National Broadcasting Company |
| NC | no charge |
| no | number |
| NPV | net present value |
| NYC | New York City |
| Letter O | |
| OAP | old-age pensioner |
| OCR | optical character recognition |
| OHP | overhead projector |
| OM | Order of Merit |
| OPEC | Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries |
| OTE | on-target earnings |
| Letter P | |
| p.a. | per annum |
| PA | personal assistant |
| PDA | personal digital assistant |
| PE | Physical Education |
| PIN | personal identification number |
| p.m. | post meridiem = after midday |
| pkt. | packet. / pocket. |
| PO | postal order |
| por. | portrait. |
| pp | pages |
| PR | public relations |
| PRO | public relations officer |
| pt | part, pint |
| PT | physical training |
| pto | please turn over |
| PYO | pick your own |
| Letter R | |
| RAF | Royal Air Force |
| R&B | rhythm and blues |
| RC | Roman Catholic |
| Rd | road |
| RDA | recommended daily amount |
| R&D | research and development |
| RE | Religious Education |
| ROFL | Rolling On the Floor Laughing |
| RP | Received Pronunciation |
| RSI | repetitive strain injury |
| RPI | retail price index |
| RPM | retail price maintenance |
| RFD | rural free delivery |
| Letter S | |
| SAD | seasonal affective disorder |
| SAE | self-addressed envelope |
| SAYE | save-as-you-earn |
| SFO | Serious Fraud Office |
| SI | Système International | S&L | savings and loan (association) |
| SAT | Scholastic Aptitude Test |
| St. | street, Saint |
| Sq. | square |
| Letter T | |
| tbs/tbsp | tablespooful |
| TEFL | Teaching of English as a Foreign Language |
| Letter U | |
| UAE | United Arab Emirates |
| UB40 | unemployment benefit 40 |
| UFO | Unidentified Flying Object |
| UK | United Kingdom |
| UN | United Nations |
| UNESCO | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization |
| USP | unique selling proposition |
| UNO | United Nations Organization |
| USSR | Union of Soviet Socialist Republics |
| Letter V | |
| VAT | value added tax |
| VC | vice-chairman |
| VCR | video cassette recorder |
| Letter W | |
| WC | water closet |
| WHO | World Health Organization |
| WYSIWYG | what you see is what you get |
| Letter Y | |
| yd | yard |
| YMCA | young Men's Christian Association |