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Abbreviation: meaning, definitions and examples

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abbreviation

 

[ əˌbriːviˈeɪʃn ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

in writing

A shortened form of a word or phrase.

Synonyms

acronym, condensation, shortening

Examples of usage

  • It is common to use 'etc.' as an abbreviation for 'et cetera'.
  • Please write your full name, not just the abbreviation.
Context #2 | Noun

in organization names

A shortened form of a name, typically consisting of initials.

Synonyms

acronym, initials, shortening

Examples of usage

  • The company's abbreviation is 'IBM' which stands for International Business Machines.
  • UNICEF is an abbreviation for United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund.
Context #3 | Noun

in measurement units

A shortened form of a unit of measurement.

Synonyms

code, short form, symbol

Examples of usage

  • The abbreviation for kilograms is 'kg'.
  • Please remember to include the correct abbreviation for the units in your calculations.

Translations

Translations of the word "abbreviation" in other languages:

🇵🇹 abreviação

🇮🇳 संक्षिप्ति

🇩🇪 Abkürzung

🇮🇩 singkatan

🇺🇦 скорочення

🇵🇱 skrót

🇯🇵 省略

🇫🇷 abréviation

🇪🇸 abreviatura

🇹🇷 kısaltma

🇰🇷 약어

🇸🇦 اختصار

🇨🇿 zkratka

🇸🇰 skratka

🇨🇳 缩写

🇸🇮 okrajšava

🇮🇸 skammstöfun

🇰🇿 қысқарту

🇬🇪 შემოკლება

🇦🇿 qısaltma

🇲🇽 abreviatura

Word origin

The word 'abbreviation' comes from the Latin word 'abbreviatio', which means 'a shortening'. The concept of abbreviating words or phrases has been used throughout history to save time and space in written communication. Abbreviations are commonly used in various fields such as medicine, technology, and business to convey information concisely. The development of abbreviations has been influenced by the need for efficiency and the evolution of language.

See also: abbreviated.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #14,536, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.