abbr.

Writing & Everyday abbreviation · Grammar and Dictionary

abbr. stands for Abbreviation, a grammar and dictionary abbreviation.

Identifies an entry or form as an abbreviation in dictionaries, glossaries and style guides, usually followed by the full form. It covers shortened words like "approx." as well as initialisms and acronyms.

Example: NATO (abbr.) North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a military alliance founded in 1949

Usage notes

Variants include abbrev. and abbr without a period. Linguists distinguish acronyms pronounced as words (NATO, laser) from initialisms read letter by letter (FBI). Some dictionaries use a separate label, "symbol," for forms such as chemical symbols and units. The word "abbreviation" is itself famously long for what it names.

Related abbreviations

More grammar and dictionary abbreviations

• AAVE – African American Vernacular English
• abl. – Ablative
• acc. – Accusative
• adj. – Adjective
• adv. – Adverb
• AmE – American English
• ant. – Antonym
• arch. – Archaic
• art. – Article
• attrib. – Attributive
• Austral. – Australian
• aux. – Auxiliary (verb)

See all 93 grammar and dictionary abbreviations →

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