CID
Abbreviation with 2 meanings
| Stands for | Criminal Investigation Department |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 2 |
| Categories | Government & Politics, Units & Measurements |
CID has two meanings. It stands for Criminal Investigation Department (police) or Cubic inch displacement (engineering unit).
Meanings of CID at a glance
| # | CID stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Criminal Investigation Department | Government & Politics › Police |
| 2 | Cubic inch displacement | Units & Measurements › Engineering Unit |
1. Criminal Investigation Department
Government & Politics · Police Abbreviations
Detective branch of a British or Commonwealth police force, responsible for investigating serious crimes such as robbery, serious assault and fraud. Officers in CID hold ranks prefixed with "Detective."
Example: The case was handed over to CID after the victim was taken to hospital.
The Metropolitan Police formed its CID in 1878 following a corruption scandal in its earlier detective branch. Many forces now organize detectives into specialized teams, but CID remains the familiar term. In the US Army, CID is the Criminal Investigation Division.
2. Cubic inch displacement
Units & Measurements · Engineering Unit Abbreviations
Engine size measured as the total swept volume of all cylinders in cubic inches, the traditional American way of naming V8s such as the 350, 427 and 454. One liter equals about 61 cubic inches.
Example: The restored Chevelle runs a 454 CID big-block V8.
Detroit marketed engines by displacement through the muscle-car era, and badges such as "427" or "426 Hemi" became icons. US automakers shifted to liters in the 1980s, but enthusiasts still think in cubic inches: the modern 5.7-liter Hemi is about 345 CID. Also written ci or cu in.
Related abbreviations
More police abbreviations
- CCW – Carry concealed weapon
- CEW – Conducted electrical weapon
- CHP – California Highway Patrol
- CI – Confidential informant
- CIT – Crisis intervention team
- CODIS – Combined DNA Index System
- CW – Cooperating witness
- DC – Detective constable
See all 84 police abbreviations →