FAR
Abbreviation with 3 meanings
| Stands for | Federal Acquisition Regulation |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 3 |
| Categories | Law & Legal, Transportation & Travel, Business & Finance |
FAR has three meanings. The most common are Federal Acquisition Regulation (contract) and Federal Aviation Regulations (aviation); it can also stand for Floor area ratio.
Meanings of FAR at a glance
| # | FAR stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Federal Acquisition Regulation | Law & Legal › Contract |
| 2 | Federal Aviation Regulations | Transportation & Travel › Aviation |
| 3 | Floor area ratio | Business & Finance › Real Estate & Mortgage |
1. Federal Acquisition Regulation
Law & Legal · Contract Abbreviations
Primary rules governing how US executive agencies buy goods and services, codified in Chapter 1 of Title 48 of the Code of Federal Regulations. It covers competition, contract types, solicitation provisions, required clauses, small-business programs and contract administration.
Example: The contracting officer cited FAR 52.212-4, the standard commercial terms clause, in the purchase order.
It took effect in 1984, replacing separate defense and civilian procurement regulations. Agencies issue supplements, the largest being the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS). Part 52 contains standard clauses incorporated into contracts by reference. A broad rewrite of the FAR began in 2025 to strip provisions not required by statute.
2. Federal Aviation Regulations
Transportation & Travel · Aviation Abbreviations
Rules issued by the FAA governing civil aviation in the United States, codified in Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Key parts include Part 61 (pilot certification), Part 91 (general operating rules), Part 107 (small drones), Part 121 (airlines) and Part 135 (charter and commuter).
Example: Under FAR 91.103, the pilot must become familiar with all available information concerning the flight.
The FAA now prefers "14 CFR" citations, partly because FAR officially names the Federal Acquisition Regulation for government purchasing. Pilots still say "the FARs," and study guides often bundle them with the Aeronautical Information Manual as the "FAR/AIM." Part numbers became shorthand for operation types, as in "a Part 135 charter."
3. Floor area ratio
Business & Finance · Real Estate & Mortgage Abbreviations
Zoning measure equal to a building's total floor area divided by the area of its lot, which limits how much can be built on a site. A FAR of 3 allows 30,000 square feet of floor space on a 10,000-square-foot lot.
Example: The site is zoned for a FAR of 6, so the developer can build up to 120,000 square feet.
In cities such as New York, unused development rights under FAR can be sold to neighboring sites as "air rights." In federal contracting, FAR means the Federal Acquisition Regulation.
Related abbreviations
More contract abbreviations
- DFARS – Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement
- DPA – Data processing agreement
- EPC – Engineering, procurement and construction
- EULA – End-user license agreement
- FFP – Firm-fixed-price
- FIDIC – International Federation of Consulting Engineers
- GMP – Guaranteed maximum price
- IDIQ – Indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity
See all 57 contract abbreviations →
More aviation abbreviations
- ETOPS – Extended-range Twin-engine Operational Performance Standards
- eVTOL – Electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft
- FA – Flight attendant
- FAF – Final approach fix
- FBO – Fixed-base operator
- FD – Flight director
- FDR – Flight data recorder
- FE – Flight engineer
See all 142 aviation abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not legal advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.