ABS
Abbreviation with 7 meanings
| Stands for | Anti-lock braking system |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 7 |
| Categories | Transportation & Travel, Government & Politics, Units & Measurements, Science & Engineering, Business & Finance, Sports, Law & Legal |
| Also written | abs |
ABS has seven meanings. The most common are Anti-lock braking system (automotive) and Australian Bureau of Statistics (world government); it can also stand for Absolute value, Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, Asset-backed security, Automated ball-strike system and Alternative business structure.
Meanings of ABS at a glance
| # | ABS stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anti-lock braking system | Transportation & Travel › Automotive |
| 2 | Australian Bureau of Statistics | Government & Politics › World Government |
| 3 | Absolute value | Units & Measurements › Math |
| 4 | Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene | Science & Engineering › Chemistry |
| 5 | Asset-backed security | Business & Finance › Bond & Fixed-Income |
| 6 | Automated ball-strike system | Sports › Baseball |
| 7 | Alternative business structure | Law & Legal › Legal Profession |
1. Anti-lock braking system
Transportation & Travel · Automotive Abbreviations
Safety system that prevents wheels from locking during hard braking by rapidly releasing and reapplying brake pressure many times per second, so the driver can keep steering while stopping. A pulsing brake pedal during an emergency stop is normal ABS operation.
Example: The ABS light came on after the wheel-speed sensor got caked with mud.
Bosch introduced the first modern electronic ABS on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class in 1978. ABS became standard on new cars sold in the EU from 2004 under an industry commitment, and the US electronic stability control requirement from the 2012 model year effectively made it universal there. On loose gravel or deep snow, ABS can lengthen stopping distances slightly. Unrelated to ABS plastic (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene).
2. Australian Bureau of Statistics
Government & Politics · World Government Abbreviations
Australia's national statistical agency, which conducts the five-yearly census and publishes official figures on inflation, employment, population and the economy.
Example: ABS data showed annual inflation eased to 2.4 percent.
The census is compulsory for every household; in 2016 the online form crashed on census night. Its monthly Labour Force survey produces the official unemployment rate. In automotive contexts ABS means anti-lock braking system.
3. Absolute value (abs)
Units & Measurements · Math Abbreviations
Function name for absolute value in programming languages and spreadsheets: abs(x) returns the distance of x from zero, so abs(−7) = 7. Handwritten and typeset math uses vertical bars instead.
Example: Excel's =ABS(B2 − C2) gives the size of the difference regardless of sign.
For complex numbers, abs returns the modulus, the distance from the origin in the complex plane. Absolute value turns differences into distances, which is why it appears in error measures such as mean absolute error. Karl Weierstrass introduced the vertical-bar notation in 1841.
4. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene
Science & Engineering · Chemistry Abbreviations
Tough, impact-resistant thermoplastic combining three monomers: acrylonitrile for chemical resistance, butadiene for toughness and styrene for rigidity and gloss. ABS is used for LEGO bricks, keyboards, appliance housings, car trim, black drain pipes and 3D-printing filament.
Example: Print the enclosure in ABS rather than PLA so it will not warp inside a hot car.
LEGO has molded its bricks from ABS since 1963. It has no dedicated resin code and falls under code 7, "other." Printing ABS releases styrene-containing fumes, so enclosed, ventilated printers are recommended. On vehicles ABS usually means anti-lock braking system, a different abbreviation.
5. Asset-backed security
Business & Finance · Bond & Fixed-Income Abbreviations
Bond backed by a pool of loans or receivables other than standard mortgages, such as auto loans, credit card balances, student loans or equipment leases. Cash flows from the underlying loans pay investors, often in tranches with different risk levels.
Example: The lender packaged $1 billion of subprime auto loans into an ABS deal with a AAA-rated senior tranche.
Securitization lets lenders free up capital and transfer risk. Credit enhancement, such as overcollateralization and subordination, protects senior tranches. Some definitions treat mortgage-backed securities as a subset of ABS. In cars, ABS means anti-lock braking system.
6. Automated ball-strike system
Sports · Baseball Abbreviations
Technology that uses camera tracking to judge balls and strikes. MLB tested full automation and a challenge system in the minor leagues and spring training before approving the challenge version for the major leagues starting in 2026.
Example: The catcher tapped his helmet to trigger an ABS challenge on the 3-2 pitch.
Under the challenge format, umpires still call every pitch, and the batter, pitcher or catcher can request a review, which is shown on the stadium video board within seconds. Teams keep their challenge after a successful review. The strike zone used by ABS is based on each batter's height.
7. Alternative business structure
Law & Legal · Legal Profession Abbreviations
Law firm or legal services entity partly or wholly owned or managed by nonlawyers, a model barred by traditional ethics rules. England and Wales have licensed ABSs since 2012 under the Legal Services Act 2007, and Arizona became the first US state to allow them in 2021.
Example: The accounting firm's legal arm operates as a licensed ABS in Arizona.
ABA Model Rule 5.4 traditionally prohibits nonlawyer ownership and fee sharing to protect lawyers' independent judgment. Utah's regulatory sandbox, launched in 2020, permits similar experiments. Supporters say outside investment can lower costs, while critics worry about conflicts of interest. In cars, ABS means anti-lock braking system.
Related abbreviations
More automotive abbreviations
- 2WD – Two-wheel drive
- 3PMSF – Three-peak mountain snowflake
- 4WD – Four-wheel drive
- ACC – Adaptive cruise control
- ADAS – Advanced driver-assistance systems
- ADM – Additional dealer markup
- AEB – Automatic emergency braking
- AMG – Aufrecht Melcher Großaspach
See all 116 automotive abbreviations →
More world government abbreviations
- AAP – Aam Aadmi Party
- ACCC – Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
- ADF – Australian Defence Force
- AEC – Australian Electoral Commission
- AfD – Alternative for Germany
- AFP – Australian Federal Police
- ALP – Australian Labor Party
- ANC – African National Congress
See all 103 world government abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not legal advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.