NEC
Abbreviation with 5 meanings
| Stands for | Necrotizing enterocolitis |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 5 |
| Categories | Medical, Science & Engineering, Transportation & Travel, Organizations & Companies, Military |
NEC has five meanings. The most common are Necrotizing enterocolitis (pediatric & neonatal) and National Electrical Code (electronics & electrical); it can also stand for Northeast Corridor, Nippon Electric Company and Navy Enlisted Classification.
Meanings of NEC at a glance
| # | NEC stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Necrotizing enterocolitis | Medical › Pediatric & Neonatal |
| 2 | National Electrical Code | Science & Engineering › Electronics & Electrical |
| 3 | Northeast Corridor | Transportation & Travel › Rail and Transit |
| 4 | Nippon Electric Company | Organizations & Companies › Company and Brand |
| 5 | Navy Enlisted Classification | Military › Military Term |
1. Necrotizing enterocolitis
Medical · Pediatric & Neonatal Abbreviations
Serious intestinal disease of mainly premature infants in which portions of the bowel become inflamed and die, causing feeding intolerance, abdominal distension, bloody stools and sepsis. It is a leading cause of death and surgery in neonatal intensive care.
Example: Bell stage II NEC: pneumatosis on X-ray, bloody stools; NPO, decompression, antibiotics, surgery consult.
Gas within the bowel wall (pneumatosis intestinalis) on X-ray is the hallmark finding, and severity is graded with modified Bell staging. Feeding with human milk, especially the mother's own milk, lowers risk. Treatment includes bowel rest and antibiotics, and perforation requires surgery. Survivors may develop short bowel syndrome.
2. National Electrical Code
Science & Engineering · Electronics & Electrical Abbreviations
US standard for the safe installation of electrical wiring and equipment, published by the National Fire Protection Association as NFPA 70 and revised every three years. Adopted into law by states and cities, it governs everything from outlet spacing to solar and EV charger installations.
Example: Under the NEC, kitchen countertop outlets must be no more than 4 feet apart along the wall.
First published in 1897, the NEC is a model code rather than federal law; jurisdictions adopt particular editions, sometimes years later and with amendments. Canada uses the separate Canadian Electrical Code. Inspectors check new wiring for compliance before buildings can be occupied.
3. Northeast Corridor
Transportation & Travel · Rail and Transit Abbreviations
Electrified rail line between Washington, DC, and Boston via Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York, the busiest railroad in North America. Amtrak owns most of the route, which also carries commuter trains.
Example: Acela trains on the NEC reach 150 mph on stretches in New Jersey and Rhode Island.
The corridor runs about 457 miles and carries hundreds of thousands of riders on a typical weekday across Amtrak and commuter railroads. Aging infrastructure, including century-old tunnels and bridges, is being replaced under major federal programs. Amtrak's next-generation Acela trains entered service in 2025.
4. Nippon Electric Company
Organizations & Companies · Company and Brand Abbreviations
Japanese information technology and electronics company providing IT services, network equipment, biometrics and space systems. Headquartered in Tokyo; the official name is NEC Corporation.
Example: Many airports use NEC facial recognition for boarding.
Founded in 1899 as a joint venture with the American firm Western Electric, Japan's first joint venture with foreign capital. NEC made popular personal computers in Japan, such as the PC-98 series, and the TurboGrafx-16 game console with Hudson Soft. It adopted NEC Corporation as its official name in 1983.
5. Navy Enlisted Classification
Military · Military Term Abbreviations
Code that identifies a specific skill, qualification or equipment specialty held by a Navy sailor beyond the basic rating, used to assign sailors to billets that need those skills.
Example: The billet requires an IT with the NEC for advanced network defense.
Sailors earn NECs by completing specialized schools or qualifications, such as independent duty corpsman or nuclear operator. A sailor can hold several NECs at once, and some carry extra pay or reenlistment bonuses. In electrical work, NEC means the National Electrical Code.
Related abbreviations
More pediatric & neonatal abbreviations
- MMRV – Measles, mumps, rubella and varicella vaccine
- MSUD – Maple syrup urine disease
- NAS – Neonatal abstinence syndrome
- NBS – Newborn screening
- NOWS – Neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome
- OFC – Occipitofrontal circumference
- PCV – Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine
- PKU – Phenylketonuria
See all 51 pediatric & neonatal abbreviations →
More electronics & electrical abbreviations
- MCB – Miniature circuit breaker
- MCU – Microcontroller unit
- MOSFET – Metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor
- NC – Normally closed
- NO – Normally open
- NTC – Negative temperature coefficient (thermistor)
- OLED – Organic light-emitting diode
- op-amp – Operational amplifier
See all 82 electronics & electrical abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.