HQ

Abbreviation with 2 meanings

HQ
Stands forHeadquarters
Meanings2
CategoriesWriting & Everyday, Medical

HQ has two meanings. It stands for Headquarters (everyday) or Hydroquinone (drug).

Meanings of HQ at a glance

#HQ stands forContext
1HeadquartersWriting & Everyday › Everyday
2HydroquinoneMedical › Drug

1. Headquarters

Writing & Everyday · Everyday Abbreviations

Refers to the main office or command center of a company, organization, military unit or campaign. It is common in business news, military usage, sports and gaming.

Example: The company plans to move its HQ from San Francisco to Austin next year.

"Headquarters" takes either a singular or plural verb ("The headquarters is" or "are"). In military usage, HQ designates a unit's command element, as in "battalion HQ." Multinational companies distinguish their global HQ from regional ones. The abbreviation is pronounced as letters and is also used as a verb in business slang ("HQ'd in Denver").

2. Hydroquinone

Medical · Drug Abbreviations

Skin-lightening agent that blocks melanin production, used to treat melasma, sun spots and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. It is available in the US by prescription, typically at 4 percent, often combined with tretinoin and a steroid.

Example: Melasma: HQ 4% cream nightly to dark patches x 3 months, strict sunscreen.

The 2020 CARES Act OTC reform effectively ended over-the-counter hydroquinone sales in the US, and the FDA has warned sellers of unapproved products. Long-term use, especially at high concentrations, can cause exogenous ochronosis, a bluish-black discoloration. The EU banned hydroquinone in cosmetics in 2001.

More everyday abbreviations

  • exp. – Expiration (date)
  • FAQ – Frequently asked questions
  • fdn. – Foundation
  • govt. – Government
  • ICE – In case of emergency
  • ID – Identification
  • incl. – Including or included
  • info – Information

See all 82 everyday abbreviations →

More drug abbreviations

  • HCl – Hydrochloride
  • HCQ – Hydroxychloroquine
  • HCT – Hydrocortisone
  • HCTZ – Hydrochlorothiazide
  • IFN – Interferon
  • INH – Isoniazid
  • ISDN – Isosorbide dinitrate
  • ISMN – Isosorbide mononitrate

See all 170 drug abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.

This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.