Abbreviations & Acronyms
Abbreviation:
An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or a phrase (group of words).
The result of abbreviation is a reduced form or abridgement of writing. They are commonly used because they save time and space.
As said by John Horne Tooke, “Abbreviations are the wheels of language, the wings of Mercury.
Examples:
ATM = Automated Teller Machine
BBC = British Broadcasting Corporation
Acronym:
It is a word formed from the initial letters of the several words in the name and pronounced as one word.
Examples:
NASA = National Aeronautics and Space Administration (USA)
AIDS = Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
Most Common Abbreviations & Acronyms with letters – X – Y – Z
X – Y – Z
| X / x | 10 (Roman numeral) / the first variable; unknown (Math) / Christ / (Xmas = Christmas) / Xian = Christian) / Kiss / Rating of cinema for which persons under 18 not allowed / A choice on ballot paper / the signature of an illiterate person, etc. |
| x | Ex (Latin) = without (eg: xd = ex dividend) |
| x-axis | The horizontal axis in a graph (Math) |
| X-body | An inclusion in a plant-cell suffering from a virus disease |
| X-chromosome | A chromosome associated with sex-determination |
| X-craft | A British midget submarine (historical) |
| XC / x-c / X-C | Cross-country (skiing) |
| xd | Ex dividend of a share price |
| Xe | Xenon (Chemistry) |
| XHTML | Extensible HTML (Computing) |
| Xian | Christian |
| XL | Extra-large (cloth size) |
| Xm / Xmas | Christmas |
| XML | Extensible markup language |
| XOR | Exclusive OR (a logic circuit with two or more inputs and one output |
| X-rated | A film for adults only (formerly) (also XXX) |
| XP | Extreme programming |
| Xt | Christ |
| Xtal | Crystal |
| Xtian | Christian |
| XXL | Extra extra large (cloth size) |
| XXX | X-rated |
Y
| Y / Y. | Yen (Japanese currency) / Yotta- / 150 (Roman numeral) / Variable / unknown (math) |
| y / y. | Yard / Year / Yocto- |
| Y-axis | The vertical or secondary axis on a graph |
| Y2K | (of or relating) the year 2000 |
| YAC | Yeast artificial chromosome |
| YAG / yag | (acronym) Yttrium aluminium garnet (a heavy colorless artificial crystal) |
| YAR | Yemen (IVR = International Vehicle Registration) |
| Yb | Ytterbium (Chemistry) |
| YC | Young Conservative(s) |
| yd. | Yard (yds. –plural) |
| YE | Your Excellency |
| Yeo. | Yeomanry |
| YFC | Young Farmers Club |
| YHA | Youth Hostels Association |
| YHWH/YHVH | Yahweh (the name of God) (Old Testament) |
| YIT | Yttrium iron garnet |
| YMCA | Young Men’s Christian Association |
| YMMV | Your mileage may vary (informal) = your experience may be different |
| yr | Year(s) / Younger / Your |
| yrs. | Years / Yours |
| YV | Venezuela (IVR = International Vehicle Registration) |
| YWCA | Young Women’s Christian Association |
Z
| Z / z. | Zetta- / Zambia (IVR = International Vehicle Registration) / 2000 (medieval Roman numeral) / the third variable (Math) / Zenith / Zepto- / Zero / Zone |
| Z | Atomic number (Chemistry) / Impedance (Physics) |
| Z– | 2000000 (medieval Roman numeral) |
| z | Used as a contraction-mark, as in viz. oz. etc. |
| ZA | Zuid Afrika (South-Africa) (IVR) |
| za | Pizza (US slang) |
| ZANU | (abbreviation & acronym) Zimbabwe African National Union (also Za nu) |
| ZANU-PF | Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front |
| ZAPU | Zimbabwe African People’s Union (also Za pu) |
| z.B. | Zum Beispiel (German) = for example |
| Z-DNA | Duplex DNA form |
| Zech. | (the Book of) Zechariah (Bible) |
| ZETA/zeta | (abbreviation & acronym) Zero-energy thermonuclear apparatus |
| ZEV | Zero-emission vehicle |
| ZIFT/Zift | (abbreviation & acronym) Zygote intrafallopian transfer (conception technique) |
| Zl | Zloty (the standard monetary unit of Poland) |
| Zn | Zinc (Chemistry) |
| ZPG | Zero population growth |
| Zr | Zirconium (Chemistry) |
| ZRE | Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire; IVR) |
| ZST | Zone Standard Time |
| ZW | Zimbabwe (IVR = International Vehicle Registration) |
| zzz | Snoring (sound) |
