DoD
Abbreviation with 4 meanings
| Stands for | United States Department of Defense |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 4 |
| Categories | Government & Politics, Military, Science & Engineering, Business & Finance |
DoD has four meanings. The most common are United States Department of Defense (US federal agency) and Department of Defense (military unit and organization); it can also stand for Depth of discharge and Definition of Done.
Meanings of DoD at a glance
| # | DoD stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States Department of Defense | Government & Politics › US Federal Agency |
| 2 | Department of Defense | Military › Military Unit and Organization |
| 3 | Depth of discharge | Science & Engineering › Energy |
| 4 | Definition of Done | Business & Finance › Project Management |
1. United States Department of Defense
Government & Politics · US Federal Agency Abbreviations
Largest federal department by personnel, commanding the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Space Force and controlling defense agencies such as the NSA and DARPA. It is headquartered at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and led by the Secretary of Defense.
Example: DoD awarded the contract for the next generation of tactical radios on Thursday.
Formed by the National Security Act of 1947 as the National Military Establishment, it took the name Department of Defense in 1949. An executive order of September 5, 2025 authorized "Department of War" as a secondary title, though the statutory name stands unless Congress changes it. DoD and DOD are both common; AP style prefers "Defense Department".
2. Department of Defense
Military · Military Unit and Organization Abbreviations
Federal executive department that oversees the US armed forces, including the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Space Force, along with defense agencies and the combatant commands. It is headquartered at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and is the largest employer in the United States.
Example: A DoD spokesperson declined to comment on the troop deployment.
Created in 1947 as the National Military Establishment and renamed the Department of Defense in 1949. The department itself writes the mixed-case form DoD, while many news organizations print DOD. Before 1947 the Army was run by a separate War Department and the Navy by the Navy Department.
3. Depth of discharge
Science & Engineering · Energy Abbreviations
Percentage of a battery's capacity that has been used in a cycle, the complement of state of charge: discharging from 100% to 30% is a 70% DoD. Shallower cycles generally let lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries last for more cycles.
Example: The battery is rated for 6,000 cycles at 80% DoD.
Manufacturers quote cycle life at a stated DoD, so ratings are not comparable without it. Lead-acid batteries suffer especially from deep discharges, while LFP cells tolerate them well. DoD is also the US Department of Defense, a much more common meaning.
4. Definition of Done
Business & Finance · Project Management Abbreviations
Shared checklist of quality criteria that a backlog item or increment must meet to count as complete in Scrum, such as code reviewed, tested, documented and deployable.
Example: The story isn't done until it meets our DoD, including automated tests.
The 2020 Scrum Guide made the Definition of Done the formal commitment for the Increment. Outside agile teams, DoD almost always means the US Department of Defense.
Related abbreviations
More US federal agency abbreviations
- DEA – Drug Enforcement Administration
- DHS – United States Department of Homeland Security
- DIA – Defense Intelligence Agency
- DOC – United States Department of Commerce
- DOE – United States Department of Energy
- DOGE – Department of Government Efficiency
- DOI – United States Department of the Interior
- DOJ – United States Department of Justice
See all 152 US federal agency abbreviations →