UK

Abbreviation with 2 meanings

UK
Stands forUnited Kingdom
Meanings2
CategoriesGeography & Places, Education & Academia

UK has two meanings. It stands for United Kingdom (country name) or University of Kentucky (university).

Meanings of UK at a glance

#UK stands forContext
1United KingdomGeography & Places › Country Name
2University of KentuckyEducation & Academia › University

1. United Kingdom

Geography & Places · Country Name Abbreviations

Sovereign state of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, officially the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, with London as its capital. UK is the everyday short form, the .uk internet domain and, since 2021, the identifier sticker on British cars driven abroad.

Example: Free delivery to all UK addresses, including the Scottish Highlands and Northern Ireland.

The ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code is GB, not UK, although ISO reserves UK so that .uk and other existing uses remain valid. American publications often write U.K. with periods; British style omits them. The UK and Great Britain are not the same: Great Britain excludes Northern Ireland.

2. University of Kentucky

Education & Academia · University Abbreviations

Kentucky's flagship public university, founded in 1865 in Lexington. Its Wildcats men's basketball program has won eight NCAA championships, second only to UCLA, and competes in the SEC.

Example: Fans packed Rupp Arena to watch UK play Louisville.

Outside Kentucky, UK almost always means the United Kingdom, so writers usually say "Kentucky". The university has a large academic medical center and agricultural research programs. Its rivalry with Louisville is a major event in the state.

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