Abbreviation Definition

ə-brēvē-āshən

abbreviations

noun

The act or product of shortening.

American Heritage

A making shorter.

Webster's New World

A shortened form of a word or phrase used chiefly in writing to represent the complete form, such as Mass. for Massachusetts or USMC for United States Marine Corps.

American Heritage

The fact or state of being made shorter.

Webster's New World

A shortened form of a word or phrase, as N.Y. for New York, Mr. for Mister, lb for pound, ctn for cotangent.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Other Word Forms of Abbreviation

Noun

Singular:

abbreviation

Plural:

abbreviations

Origin of Abbreviation

First attested 1400–50. From Middle English abbreviacioun, from Middle French abréviation, from Late Latin abbreviātiō, from ab (“from”) + abbreviō (“make brief”), from Latin ad + breviō (“shorten”), from brevis (“short”).

From Wiktionary