EC
Abbreviation with 7 meanings
| Stands for | Emergency contraception |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 7 |
| Categories | Medical, Government & Politics, Geography & Places, Science & Engineering, Education & Academia |
EC has seven meanings. The most common are Emergency contraception (obstetrics & gynecology) and Electoral College (political); it can also stand for European Commission, Enteric-coated, Ecuador, Enzyme Commission number and Extracurricular activity.
Meanings of EC at a glance
| # | EC stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emergency contraception | Medical › Obstetrics & Gynecology |
| 2 | Electoral College | Government & Politics › Political |
| 3 | European Commission | Government & Politics › World Government |
| 4 | Enteric-coated | Medical › Pharmacy |
| 5 | Ecuador | Geography & Places › Country Code |
| 6 | Enzyme Commission number | Science & Engineering › Biology |
| 7 | Extracurricular activity | Education & Academia › Academic |
1. Emergency contraception
Medical · Obstetrics & Gynecology Abbreviations
Methods used after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure to prevent pregnancy: levonorgestrel pills (up to 72 hours, available over the counter), ulipristal acetate (up to 120 hours, prescription) and the copper IUD (up to 5 days). EC prevents or delays ovulation and does not end an existing pregnancy.
Example: Condom broke 30 hours ago; EC options reviewed, ulipristal 30 mg given.
Levonorgestrel 1.5 mg (Plan B) has been available over the counter without age restriction in the US since 2013. It may be less effective in people with higher body weight, for whom ulipristal or a copper IUD is preferred. In pharmacy EC means enteric-coated, so prescriptions spell out emergency contraception.
2. Electoral College
Government & Politics · Political Abbreviations
Body of 538 electors, allotted to states by their number of senators and representatives plus three for the District of Columbia, that formally elects the US President and Vice President. A candidate needs a majority of 270 electoral votes to win.
Example: Analysts mapped several paths to 270 in the EC for both candidates.
Electors meet in their state capitals in December, and Congress counts the votes in a joint session on January 6. All states except Maine and Nebraska award their electors winner-take-all. The Electoral Count Reform Act of 2022 clarified that the vice president's role in the count is ministerial. In EU contexts, EC means the European Commission.
3. European Commission
Government & Politics · World Government Abbreviations
Executive branch of the European Union, which proposes EU laws, enforces EU treaties and competition rules, manages the budget and negotiates trade agreements. It has 27 commissioners, one from each member state, led by a President.
Example: The EC fined the tech company for abusing its dominant position in online advertising.
The Commission President is proposed by the European Council and elected by the European Parliament, which also approves the full college of commissioners. Its headquarters is the Berlaymont building in Brussels. In US politics, EC means the Electoral College, and in the UK "the EC" was once used for the European Community.
4. Enteric-coated
Medical · Pharmacy Abbreviations
Tablet or capsule coated with a polymer that resists stomach acid and dissolves in the more alkaline small intestine. Low-dose aspirin, some potassium and iron products and older NSAID forms are enteric-coated to protect the stomach or the drug.
Example: Aspirin EC 81 mg PO daily for secondary prevention.
Enteric coating is a kind of delayed release, and EC products must not be crushed or chewed. Antacids or acid-reducing drugs taken at the same time may dissolve the coating early. Studies suggest enteric coating does not prevent aspirin's ulcer risk, because aspirin also damages the stomach through its systemic effects on prostaglandins.
5. Ecuador
Geography & Places · Country Code Abbreviations
Named for the equator, Ecuador has Quito, at about 2,850 metres, as its capital and owns the Galápagos Islands. It has used the US dollar since 2000, and its alpha-3 code is ECU.
Example: Galápagos cruise bookings require EC as the country of departure.
Ecuador adopted the US dollar in 2000. The alpha-3 code is ECU. EC is also the European Commission and, in older usage, the European Community.
6. Enzyme Commission number
Science & Engineering · Biology Abbreviations
Four-part numerical code that classifies enzymes by the reaction they catalyze, such as EC 3.2.1.1 for alpha-amylase. The first digit places an enzyme in one of seven classes, including oxidoreductases (1), transferases (2) and hydrolases (3).
Example: Lysozyme is classified as EC 3.2.1.17, a hydrolase that cleaves bacterial cell walls.
The system was established in 1961 by the Enzyme Commission of the International Union of Biochemistry and is maintained by IUBMB. A seventh class, translocases, was added in 2018. EC numbers describe reactions, not proteins, so unrelated enzymes catalyzing the same reaction share a number.
7. Extracurricular activity
Education & Academia · Academic Abbreviations
Activity outside the classroom, such as sports, music, clubs, jobs, volunteering or family responsibilities, listed by college applicants to show interests and commitment. The Common App provides space to describe up to ten activities.
Example: Her strongest EC is founding a coding club that now teaches 80 middle schoolers.
Admissions readers generally value depth, leadership and impact over a long list. Work and caring for siblings count as legitimate activities. The abbreviation is mostly used in student forums and counseling, while colleges write "activities".
Related abbreviations
More obstetrics & gynecology abbreviations
- CST – Contraction stress test
- CVS – Chorionic villus sampling
- D&C – Dilation and curettage
- D&E – Dilation and evacuation
- EDC – Estimated date of confinement
- EDD – Estimated due date
- EFM – Electronic fetal monitoring
- EFW – Estimated fetal weight
See all 89 obstetrics & gynecology abbreviations →
More political abbreviations
- DNC – Democratic National Committee
- DNI – Director of National Intelligence
- DSA – Democratic Socialists of America
- DSCC – Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
- EO – Executive order
- EV – Electoral vote
- FDR – Franklin Delano Roosevelt
- FLOTUS – First Lady of the United States
See all 91 political abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.