IB

Abbreviation with 5 meanings

IB
Stands for	International Baccalaureate
Meanings	5
Categories	Education & Academia, Business & Finance, Transportation & Travel, Medical, Texting & Internet Slang

IB has five meanings. The most common are International Baccalaureate (standardized test) and Investment banking (finance); it can also stand for Iberia, Investigator's brochure and Inspired by.

Meanings of IB at a glance

#	IB stands for	Context
1	International Baccalaureate	Education & Academia › Standardized Test
2	Investment banking	Business & Finance › Finance
3	Iberia	Transportation & Travel › Airline Code
4	Investigator's brochure	Medical › Medical Research
5	Inspired by	Texting & Internet Slang › Social Media

1. International Baccalaureate

Education & Academia · Standardized Test Abbreviations

Geneva-based foundation, founded in 1968, whose Diploma Programme for students aged 16 to 19 requires six subjects plus Theory of Knowledge, a 4,000-word Extended Essay and Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS). Each subject is graded 1 to 7, and with up to three core points the diploma is scored out of 45, with 24 the usual minimum to pass.

Example: With an IB score of 40, she received offers from three UK universities.

British and European universities often make offers in IB points, while US colleges frequently award credit for Higher Level exam scores of 5 or above. The organization also runs the Primary Years, Middle Years and Career-related programmes. Only authorized IB World Schools may teach the courses.

2. Investment banking

Business & Finance · Finance Abbreviations

Segment of banking that advises companies and governments on mergers and acquisitions and helps them raise capital by underwriting stock and bond issues. Leading IB firms include Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan, ranked in league tables by fees and deal volume.

Example: She spent two years as an IB analyst before moving to a private equity firm.

Investment banking is famous for long hours and a hierarchy of analyst, associate, vice president, director and managing director. In the US, the Glass-Steagall Act separated investment and commercial banking from 1933 until its partial repeal in 1999. The IB in "IB diploma" refers to the International Baccalaureate.

3. Iberia

Transportation & Travel · Airline Code Abbreviations

Spain's flag carrier, based at Madrid-Barajas, with the largest network between Europe and Latin America. Iberia is part of International Airlines Group and a member of oneworld.

Example: IB 6251 from Madrid to New York is operated by an A350.

ICAO code IBE; callsign "Iberia." Founded in 1927. Iberia merged with British Airways in 2011 to create International Airlines Group, which later added Vueling and Aer Lingus. Its Iberia Express subsidiary handles short-haul low-cost routes.

4. Investigator's brochure

Medical · Medical Research Abbreviations

Compilation of the clinical and nonclinical data on an investigational product that are relevant to its study in humans, including pharmacology, toxicology, earlier trial results and known risks. Sponsors provide it to investigators and ethics committees and review it at least annually.

Example: Updated IB adds hepatotoxicity as an expected adverse reaction.

Content and format are defined in ICH E6. The brochure's reference safety information determines whether a serious adverse reaction counts as expected or unexpected for regulatory reporting. For approved drugs used in trials, the product label may serve the same purpose.

5. Inspired by

Texting & Internet Slang · Social Media Abbreviations

Credits the creator who inspired a post, recipe, dance, outfit or design, as in "ib: @username." Common on TikTok, Instagram and Pinterest.

Example: Tried the whipped coffee trend, ib @cafebyjen on TikTok.

A courtesy that acknowledges creative sources without claiming they made the content. Failing to credit originators, especially Black creators of viral dances, has been a recurring controversy on TikTok. IB is shorter than "inspired by" and widely understood among younger users.

More standardized test abbreviations

HiSET – High School Equivalency Test
HSC – Higher School Certificate
HSK – Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (Chinese Proficiency Test)
HSPT – High School Placement Test
ICSE – Indian Certificate of Secondary Education
IELTS – International English Language Testing System
IGCSE – International General Certificate of Secondary Education
INBDE – Integrated National Board Dental Examination

See all 106 standardized test abbreviations →

More finance abbreviations

FV – Future value
GP – General partner
HNWI – High-net-worth individual
HoldCo – Holding company
IBD – Investment banking division
ICR – Interest coverage ratio
IOI – Indication of interest
IRR – Internal rate of return

See all 88 finance 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.

IB