Britain & British Acronyms & Abbreviations
Read a listing of British acronyms and abbreviations - the most common acronyms used in Britain in business, government, medicine, law enforcement and entertainment.
In the UK, people often use acronyms and abbreviations because they like being witty, a bit ironic, and getting to the point quickly. Shortened words and phrases make it faster to communicate and can create a feeling of shared understanding or “being in the know.” They are also used to make serious issues sound lighter, to simplify complicated business terms, and to shorten everyday phrases in casual, text-based conversations.
Text message short forms are written in lower case.
Further information on many of the terms in this list of acronyms in the UK is available via accompanying links.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
AA - Automobile Association.
AACE - Association of Ambulance Chief Executives.
AAGBI - Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland.
AAIB - Air Accident Investigation Branch (of the Metropolitan Police).
AbFab - Absolutely Fabulous - British TV series.
A&E - Accident and Emergency.
ABI - Association of British Insurers.
ABP - Associated British Ports.
ABTA - Association of British Travel Agents.
ABU - Anyone But (Manchester) United.
ACAB - all cops are b*stards.
ACAS - Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service.
ACDC - The Arts Charity at Dean Clough.
ACDP - Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens.
ACE - Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment.
ACH - Automated Clearing House.
ACMD - Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.
ACO - Allied Command Operations (NATO).
ACOBA - Advisory Committee on Business Appointments.
ACPO - Association of Chief Police Officers (of England, Wales & Northern Ireland).
ACS - Association of Convenience Stores.
ADC - Association of District Councils.
AEA - Atomic Energy Authority.
AELTC - All England Lawn Tennis Club.
AEO - Alternative Episcopal Oversight.
AEP - Attenuating energy projectiles.
aet - after extra time.
AGCs - adult gaming centres.
Aggro - abbreviation for aggression.
AGM - Annual General Meeting.
AHDB - Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board.
AHEAD - Enfield & Haringey Drug Treatment for Young People.
AIA - Asphalt Industry Alliance.
AIFTA - Anglo-Irish Free Trade Agreement.
AKA - also known as.
AKEU - Anti-kidnap and Extortion Unit of the National Crime Agency (NCA).
ALVA - Association of Leading Visitor Attractions.
AME - Annually Managed Expenditure.
AMHP - Approved Mental Health Professional.
ANPR - Automatic number-plate recognition.
AOB - any other business.
AON/AOS - Apparently Occupied Nests/Sites.
AONB - Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
APL - Association of Pension Lawyers.
APPGs - All-Party Parliamentary Groups.
APA - Associate of the Royal Academy.
APP - Authorised push payment.
APT - Advanced Passenger Train.
APT - Associated Party Transaction.
Arap - Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy.
ARC - Alliance for Responsible Citizenship.
ARFID - avoidant restrictive food intake disorder.
AROPL - Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light.
ARP - Air Raid Precautions.
ARV - Armed Response Vehicle.
ASA - Advertising Standards Authority.
ASAP - as soon as possible.
ASCL - Association of School and College Leaders.
ASBO - anti-social behaviour order.
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder.
ASH - Action on Smoking and Health.
ASLEF - Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen.
ASMR - autonomous sensory meridian response.
ASSI - Area of Special Scientific Interest.
ATC - Air Training Corps.
Av - Avenue.
AvMA - Action against Medical Accidents.
AVST - Aston Villa Supporters Trust.
AWOL - absent without leave.
B
BA - British Airlines.
BA - Bachelor of Arts.
BAF - Blenheim Art Foundation.
BAME - Black, Asian, and minority ethnic.
B&B - bed and breakfast.
BAE - British Aerospace.
BARK - Brent Action for Responsible K9s.
BARLA - British Amateur Rugby League Association Limited. Read more
BASHH - British Association for Sexual Health and HIV.
BAT - British American Tobacco.
BBBofC - British Boxing Board of Control.
BBC - British Broadcasting Corporation.
BBFC - British Board of Film Classification.
BBPA - British Beer and Pub Association.
BBPA - Black Business and Professional Association (Canada).
BC - British Cycling.
BCA - British Car Auctions.
BCVA - Black Country Visual Arts.
BCC - blind carbon copy (on emails).
BCIF - British Channel Island Ferries.
BCP - Book of Common Prayer.
Beds - Bedfordshire (county).
BEIS - Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
BGC - Betting & Gaming Council.
BGS - British Geological Survey.
BFI - British Film Institute.
B&H - Benson & Hedges (cigarettes).
BHA - British Horseracing Authority.
BHF - British Heart Foundation.
BHS - British Home Stores.
BIAZA - British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
BIJ - Bureau of Invesigative Journalism.
BIS - Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (now merged).
BIT - Behavioural Insights Team.
BITC - Business in the Community.
BL - British Library.
BLM - Black Lives Matter.
BLT - bacon, lettuce, tomato (sandwich).
BLP - Brent Lodge Park.
BMA - British Medical Association.
BMJ - British Medical Journal.
BMT - British Muslim Trust.
B&NES - Bath and North East Somerset.
BNF - British National Formulary.
BNFC - British National Formulary for Children.
BO - body odour.
BOA - Bradford on Avon.
BoE - Bank of England.
BP - British Petroleum.
BPA - Black Police Association.
BPAS - British Pregnancy Advisory Service.
BPC - British Phosporous Commission.
BPC - British Polling Council.
BPCA - British Pest Control Association.
BPI - British Phonographic Industry.
BPIT - British Ports Industry Training.
BPM - beats per minute.
BR - British Rail.
BRCS - Brent River and Canal Society.
BREL - British Rail Engineering Ltd.
BRP - biometric residence permit.
BRB - be right back.
BRC - British Retail Consortium.
BSA - Birmingham Small Arms Company Limited.
BSA - British Sandwich Association.
BSA - British Services Association.
BSE - bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
BSL - British Sign Language.
BST - British Summer Time.
BT - British Telecom.
BTP - British Transport Police.
BTW - by the way.
BUF - British Union of Fascists (fascist political party formed in 1932 by Oswald Mosley).
BUS - British Ukrainian Society.
BVRLA - British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association.
BWV - Body Worn Video.
BYOB - bring your own booze (bottle).
C
Cefas - Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science.
CAA - Civil Aviation Authority.
CAB - Citizen's Advice Bureau.
CAFCASS - Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service.
CAIU - Child Abuse Investigation Unit.
CAMRA - Campaign for Real Ale.
CAN - Chinese Arts Now.
CAT - Centre for Alternative Technology.
CAB - Criminal Bar Association.
Cafcass - Children and family court advisory and support service.
CALM - Campaign Against Living Miserably.
CAS - Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies.
CBA - can't be arsed.
CBDC - central-bank digital currency.
CBE - Commander of the British Empire.
CBI - Confederation of British Industry.
CBO - Criminal Behaviour Order.
CC - carbon copy.
CCDH - Centre for Countering Digital Hate.
CCF - Combined Cadet Force.
CCHQ - Conservative Campaign Headquarters.
CCN - County Councils Network.
CCRC - Criminal Cases Review Commission.
CCS - carbon capture and storage.
CDC - Cricket Discipline Committee.
CDO - Conservative Democratic Organization.
CELTA - Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults.
CEOP - Child Exploitation & Online Protection.
C of E - Church of England.
cf. - confer/conferatur, both meaning 'compare'.
CFCCA - Centre For Contemporary Chinese Art (now esea contemporary).
CFI - The Home Office's Criminal & Financial Investigations.
CFS - Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
CHE - Campaign for Homosexual Equality.
CHIS - covert human intelligence source.
CICA - Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.
CICS - Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.
CID - Criminal Investigation Department.
CIMA - Calderdale Industrial Museum Association.
CIO - Charitable Incorporated Organisation.
CIPD - Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
CJWU - Criminal Justice Workers Union.
CKS - Clinical Knowledge Summaries.
CLA - Country Land & Business Association.
CLP - Constituency Labour Party.
CMA - Competition and Markets Authority.
CMC - Cyber Monitoring Centre.
CMO - Chief Medical Officer.
CNC - Civil Nuclear Constabulary.
CND - Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.
CNT - Commission for New Towns.
COBRA - Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms (COBR).
CoCH - Countess of Chester Hospital.
CONTEST - Counter-Terrorism Strategy.
COPFS - Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
CoS - Certificate of Sponsorship.
CPA - Christian Peoples Alliance (political party).
CPGB - Communist Part of Great Britain.
CPI - Consumer Price Index.
CPS - Crown Prosecution Service.
CQC - Care Quality Commission.
Cres. - Crescent (address).
CRIC - Centre for the Resolution of Intractable Conflict.
CRN - Community Rail Network.
CRP - Community Rail Partnership.
CSEW - Crime Survey for England and Wales.
CSG - Camden School for Girls.
CSJ - Centre for Social Justice.
CSM - Central Saint Martins.
CSMOA - Cricket Scotland Match Officials Association.
CSO - Combined Sewer Overflow.
CSOC - Cyber Security Operations Centre.
CSRI - China Strategic Risks Institute.
CST - Chelsea Supporters Trust.
CST - Community Security Trust.
CTBI - Churches Together in Britain and Ireland.
CTC - Counter Terrorism Command.
CTP - Counter Terror Policing.
CTPNW - Counter Terrorism Policing North West.
CTRL - Channel Tunnel Rail Link.
CTPSE - Counter Terror Policing South East.
CTSI - Chartered Trading Standards Institute.
CUP - Cambridge University Press.
CV - curriculum vitae.
CVA - Company Voluntary Arrangement.
CWU - Communication Workers Union.
D
DAB - digital audio broadcasting.
DAPO - indefinite domestic abuse protection order.
DBE - Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
DBS - Disclosure and Barring Service Check.
DCA - Dundee Contemporary Arts.
DCMS - Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
DDLG - Daddy Dom Little Girl.
DECC - Department of Energy and Climate Change.
DEFRA - Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
DELTA - Diploma in English Language Teaching to Adults.
DESNZ - Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
DFE - Department for Education.
DfT - Department for Transport.
DHSS - Department of Health and Social Security (defunct).
DI - detective inspector.
DIY - do it yourself.
DLR - Docklands Light Railway.
DM - direct message.
DMofT - Dundee Museum of Transport.
DOA - dead on arrival.
DOB - date of birth.
DPG - Diplomatic Protection Group.
DPP - Director of Public Prosecutions.
Dr - Drive (street address).
Dr. - Doctor.
DSMA - Defense and Security Media Advisory.
DSS - Department of Social Security (defunct).
DTI - Department of Trade & Industry.
DUP - Democratic Unionist Party (Northern Ireland).
DVLA - Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.
DVPO - Domestic Violence Protection Order.
DVSA - Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.
DWI - Drinking Water Inspectorate.
DWP - Department for Work and Pensions.
DYJA - Doncaster Youth Jazz Association.
E
EA - Environment Agency.
EAP - English for Academic Purposes.
EBSS - Energy Bills Support Scheme.
ECB - England & Wales Cricket Board.
ECDC - Earls Court Development Company.
ECIU - Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit.
ECP - English Collective of Prostitutes.
EDDC - East Devon District Council.
EDL - English Defence League.
EDM - electronic dance music.
EEG - electroencephalography.
EFL - English Football League.
EFL - English as a Foreign Language.
EH - English Heritage.
EHCPs - education, health and care plans.
EHRC - The Equality and Human Rights Commission.
EIC - East India Company.
EICA - Edinburgh International Climbing Arena.
EiiR - Elizabeth II Regina.
EIHL - Elite Ice Hockey League.
ELM - East London Mosque.
ELO - Electric Light Orchestra (band).
EMCCA - East Midlands Combined County Authority.
EMCDDA - European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction.
EMSOU - East Midlands Special Operations Unit.
ENA - Energy Networks Association.
ENM - Ethical Non-Monogamy.
ENO - English National Opera.
EORI - Economic Operators Registration and Identification number.
EPL - English Premier League.
EPNS - English Place Name Society.
EPS - Earnings Per Share.
EPS - Encapsulated PostScript.
EPU - Environmental Protection Unit.
ERA - Entertainment Retailers Association.
ERCC - Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre.
ERF - Emergency Restriction of Flying.
ERG - European Research Group (a research support group and caucus of Eurosceptic Conservative MPs).
ERIH - The European Route of Industrial Heritage.
ERP - Events Research Programme - examines the risk of transmission of Covid-19 at large events.
ERS - Early Release Scheme.
ESFA - Education and Skills Funding Agency.
ESL - English as a Second Language.
ESO - Electricity System Operator.
ESTC - England Supporters Travel Club.
ETA - estimated time of arrival.
ETII - Energy and Trade Intensive Industries.
EUSS - European Union Settlement Scheme.
Evens - Evidence for equality national survey.
F
FA - Football Association.
FAB-L - Fashion Workers Advice Bureau (Leicester).
FAC - (Parliamentary) Foreign Affairs Committee.
FANY - First Aid Nursing Yeomanry.
FAQ – frequently asked questions.
FBU – Fire Brigades Union.
FC - Football Club.
FCA - Financial Conduct Authority.
FCDO - Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
FCO - Foreign and Commonwealth Office (now FCDO).
FE - further education.
FEPOWs - Far East Prisoners of War.
FFSFF - Farmers For Stock-Free Farming.
FHNUK - Fire Heritage Network UK.
FiF - Forward in Faith - movement in the C of E and the Scottish Episcopal Church representing traditionalist Anglo-Catholicism and opposition to the ordination of women.
FIG UK - Fire Information Group - information exchange co-operative in the fire, loss prevention and resilience fields.
FIRE - Financially Independent Retire Early.
FIRS - Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.
fMRI - functional magnetic resonance imaging.
FO - Foreign Office (now FCDO).
FOELH - Friends of Essex & London Homeless.
FoGCML - Friends of the Great Central Main Line.
Fomo - fear of missing out.
FRS - Fellowship of the Royal Society.
FRS - Facilitated Return Scheme.
FSA - Food Standards Agency.
FSA - Football Supporters' Association.
FSB - Federation of Small Businesses.
FTPA - Fixed-term Parliaments Act.
FTSE - Financial Times Stock Exchange.
FYI - for your information.
FWB - Friends With Benefits, meaning people who know each other engage in intimate/sexual activity without really dating each other.
G
GB - Great Britain.
GBH - grievous bodily harm.
GBP - Great British Pounds (currency).
GBR - Great British Railways - new state-owned body to run railways in Britain.
GCHQ - Government Communication Headquarters.
GCSE - General Certificate of Secondary Education.
GDPR - General Data Protection Regulation.
GEC - General Electric Company (former industrial conglomerate).
GGG - Good, Giving and Game.
Gif - graphics interchange format.
GISAID - global initiative on sharing avian influenza data.
GLA - Greater London Authority.
GLAA - Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority.
GLC - Greater London Council (now defunct).
GLSM - Gays and Lesbians Support the Miners.
GMBATU - General, Municipal, Boilermakers' and Allied Trade Union (shortened to GMB).
GMC - Greater Manchester Council formerly the Greater Manchester County Council (GMCC).
GMC - General Medical Council.
GMCA - Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
GMMCC - Greater Manchester Metropolitan County Council, succeeded by the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA).
GMWU - General and Municipal Workers' Union.
GMP - Greater Manchester Police.
GMSF - Greater Manchester spatial framework.
GMT - Greenwich Mean Time.
GOAT - Greatest of All Time.
GOSH - Great Ormond Street Hospital (Children's Hospital in London)
GP - general practitioner (family doctor).
GPCs - Government procurement cards.
GPO - General Post Office.
GRC - acronym for Gender Recognition Certificate.
GROS - General Register Office for Scotland.
GRT - Gypsy, Roma, Travelling (community).
GSOH - Good Sense Of Humour.
GTS - Good Thinking Society.
GW - Games Workshop Group.
H
Hants - Hampshire (county).
HARCA - Housing and Regeneration Community Association.
HART - Hazardous Area Response Team.
HES - Historic Environment Scotland.
HF - Holmesdale Fanatics (ultras group associated with Crystal Palace football club).
HGV - heavy goods vehicle.
HI - Hostelling International.
HICA - Highland Institute for Contemporary Art.
HLF - Heritage Lottery Fund, now the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
HMC - Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference.
HMCT - Heatons Muslims Community Trust.
HMDS - Her/His Majesty's Diplomatic Service.
HMICFRS - Her/His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services.
HMOs - houses of multiple occupation.
HMP - Her/His Majesty's Prison.
HMPPS - Her/His Majesty's Prison & Probation Service.
HMRC - Her/His Majesty's Revenue and Customs.
HMS - Her/His Majesty's Ship.
HMT - Her/His Majesty's Troopship/Tug.
HMV - His Master's Voice.
HND - Higher National Diploma.
HP - hire purchase.
HP - (type of brown sauce).
HRA - High Risk Area (at sea).
HRH - Her/His Royal Highness.
HS - Historic Scotland.
HS - Health and Safety Executive.
HSJ - Health Service Journal.
I
ICA - Institute of Contemporary Arts.
ICAEW - Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
ICC - The International Convention Centre (Birmingham).
ICEC - Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket.
ICGS - Independent Complaints and Grevance Scheme.
ICI - Imperial Chemical Industries.
ICIJ - International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.
ICNARC - Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre.
ICO - The Information Commissioner's Office.
ICT - Information and communications technology.
IDS - Sir George Iain Duncan Smith (politician).
IELTS - International English Language Testing System.
IET - The Institution of Engineering and Technology.
IfG - Institute for Government.
IFN - Inter Faith Network.
IFR - Independent Football Regulator.
IFS - Institute for Fiscal Studies.
IICSA - Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse.
ILR - Indefinite Right to Remain.
IMB - Independent Monitoring Board(s).
IMR - Isle of Man Railway.
IOM - Isle of Man.
IOPC - Independent Office for Police Conduct.
IOW - Isle of Wight.
IPA - India pale ale.
IPAC - Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China.
IPCC - Independent Police Complaints Commission.
IPCC - Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
IPP - Imprisonment for public protection.
IPPR - Institute for Public Policy Research.
IPSO - Independent Press Standards Organisation.
IPT - Investigatory Powers Tribunal.
IRA - Irish Republican Army.
IRR - Institute of Race Relations.
ISA - Individual Savings Account.
ISC - Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament.
ISD - Institute for Strategic Dialogue.
ITV - Independent Television.
IWF - Internet Watch Foundation.
IWGB - Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain.
IWM - Imperial War Museum.
J
JBC - Joint Biosecurity Centre.
JCB - mechanical digger from the company name Joseph Cyril Bamford Excavators.
JCT - Joint Contracts Tribunal.
JCVI - Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.
JENGba - Joint Enterprise Not Guilty By Association.
JFCT - Jesus Fellowship Community Trust.
JFS - formerly known as the Jews' Free School and later the Jewish Free School.
JFSA - Justice For Sub-postmasters Alliance.
JGI - Jane Goodall Institute.
JLR - Jaguar Land Rover.
JNCC - Joint Nature Conservation Committee.
JP - Justice of the Peace.
JRF - Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
JRT - Jack Russell Terrier.
K
k - OK in SMS chat.
k - kilo.
KCC - Kent county council.
KFSTA - King's Foundation School of Traditional Arts.
KHM - King's Harbour Master.
KLF - band.
KP - Kevin Pietersen (famous former cricketer).
kph - kilometres per hour.
KSI - British YouTuber, Olajide Olayinka Williams "JJ" Olatunji.
L
LAEI - London Atmospheric Emissions Inventory.
larp - live-action role play.
LAS - London Ambulance Service.
LASEUG - London and South East University Group.
Laser - Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.
Ln - Lane.
LBW - Leg before wicket (cricket dismissal).
LCR - London and Continental Railways.
LDN - London.
LDOS - Lord's Day Observance Society.
LDRS - Local Democracy Reporting Service.
LDSA - Liverpool Disabled Supporters Association.
LEA - Local Education Authority.
LEZ - Low Emission Zone.
LFB - London Fire Brigade.
LFD - lateral flow device.
LFT - lateral flow test.
LFR - live facial recognition.
LGA - Local Government Association.
LGBT - lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender.
LGBTQ - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer.
LGIU - Local Government Information Unit.
LGR - local government reform.
Lib Dems - Liberal Democrats (political party in the UK).
LLGFF - London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival (now BFI Flare: London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival).
LMA - League Managers Association - the collective, representative voice of all managers from English football.
LRU - London Renters' Union.
LSE - London School of Economics and Political Science.
LSE - London Stock Exchange.
LSER - London South Eastern Railway.
LSO - London Symphony Orchestra.
LSOA - lower layer super output areas.
LSWP - Legacy of Slavery Working Party.
LTA - Lawn Tennis Association.
Ltd. - Limited.
LTN - Low Traffic Neighbourhood.
LTSR - London, Tilbury and Southend Railway.
M
MA - Master of Arts.
MACA - Military Aid to the Civil Authorities.
MAOC - Maritime Analysis Operations Centre.
MBE - Member of the British Empire.
MCA - Maritime & Coastguard Agency.
MCB - Muslim Council of Britain.
MDSA - Midland District Swimming Association.
M&S - Marks and Spencer.
MCC - Marylebone Cricket Club.
ME - myalgic encephalomyelitis (cf. CFS/ME).
MEAA - Museum of East Asian Art in Bath.
MFA - Master of Fine Arts.
MHCLG - Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
MHRA - Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
MI5 - Military Intelligence, Section 5.
MI6 - Secret Intelligence Service (SIS).
MIF - Manchester International Festival.
MKDC - Milton Keynes Development Corporation.
MLE - Multicultural London English.
MMR - measles, mumps and rubella.
MMU - Manchester Metropolitan University (formerly Manchester Polytechnic).
MoD - Ministry of Defence.
MODEM - Managerial and Organisational Disciplines for the Enhancement of Ministry.
MOJ - Ministry of Justice.
MOLA - Museum of London Archaeology.
Mopac - (London) Mayor's office for policing and crime.
MORI - Market and Opinion Research International.
MOSI - Museum of Science and Industry (Manchester). Read more - Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI)
MoTGM - Museum of Transport Greater Manchester. Read more - Museum of Transport Greater Manchester (MoTGM)
MOTD - Match of the Day.
MP - Member of Parliament
MPC - Monetary Policy Committee.
mph - miles per hour.
MPNI - Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance (defunct).
MPS - Metropolitan Police Service.
MPV - Marine Patrol Vessel.
MSc - Master of Science.
MSG - Maritime Security Guidance.
MTB - mountain bike.
MUFC - Manchester United Football Club.
MUST - Manchester United Supporters Trust.
N
NAAFI - Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes.
NADP - National Anti-Doping Panel.
NAHT - National Association of Head Teachers.
NAO - National Audit Office.
NAS - National Archives of Scotland.
NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
NATS - National Air Traffic Services.
NB - non-binary (enby).
NBRN - National Building Repair Network.
NCA - National Crime Agency.
NCCL - National Council for Civil Liberties (now just Liberty).
NCMD - National Child Mortality Database.
NCN - National Cycle Network.
NCND - Neither Confirm Nor Deny.
NCSC - National Cyber Security Centre.
NCT Nottingham City Transport.
NDD - National Diploma in Design.
NEC - National Executive Committee (of the Labour Party).
Ned - non-educated delinquent (Scottish backronym).
NEET - Not in Education, Employment, or Training.
Nervtag - New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group.
NESM - National Emergency Services Museum (Sheffield).
NESO - National Energy System Operator.
NEU - National Education Union.
NF - National Front (far-right political party).
NFFF - The National Federation of Fish Friers.
NFI - National Fraud Initiative.
NFS - National Fire Service.
NGSC - Next Generation Security Checkpoints.
NHS - the National Health Service.
NHSBT - NHS Blood and Transplant.
NI - Northern Ireland.
NIAS - Northern Ireland Ambulance Service.
NIC - National Infrastructure Committee.
NICE - National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.
NIESR - National Institute of Economic and Social Research.
NIHE - Northern Ireland Housing Executive.
NIHMO - Northern Ireland Houses of Multiple Occupation Unit.
NIMBY - not in my back yard.
NIWA - National Institute of Water and Atmospherics.
Ninos - National Insurance numbers.
NJCT - Nubian Jak Community Trust.
NLCT - New Lanark Conservation Trust.
NLS - National Library of Scotland.
NLW - National Library of Wales (Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru).
NML - National Museums Liverpool.
NMMC - National Maritime Museum Cornwall in Falmouth.
NNR - National Nature Reserve.
NOLO - No- and low-alcohol (drinks).
NP - National Park.
NPAS - National Police Air Service.
NPAs - National Park Authorities.
NPCC - National Police Chiefs' Council.
NPF - National Policy Forum (of the Labour Party).
NPG - National Portrait Gallery.
NPI - non-pharmaceutical interventions.
NRM - National Referral Mechanism.
NRPF - no recourse to public funds.
NRS - National Records of Scotland.
NRG - Northern Research Group (a research support group and caucus of Conservative MPs representing constituencies in northern England, Wales and the Scottish borders since the 2019 general election).
NSA - No Strings Attached.
NSPCC - National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
NT - National Trust.
NUDSA - Newcastle United Disabled Supporters Association.
NUJ - National Union of Journalists.
NUM - National Union of Mineworkers.
NUR - National Union of Railwaymen.
NUS - National Union of Students.
NTS - National Trust Scotland.
NUT - National Union of Teachers.
NUWSS - National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies.
NYDC - National Youth Dance Company.
NYMR - North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
O
OAP - old-age pensioner.
OBE - Order of the British Empire.
OBR - Office for Budget Responsibility.
OCCRP - Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project.
OCPA - Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
ODT - Owners' and Directors' Test (for the Premier League).
OED - Oxford English Dictionary.
Ofcom - Office of Communications.
OFMDFM - Office of the First Minister & Deputy First Minister (Northern Ireland).
OfS - Office for Students, part of the Department for Education (DFE).
OGC - Office of Government Commerce.
OGEL - Open General Export Licence.
OMD - Orchestral Movement in the Dark (band).
ONS - Office of National Statistics.
ONS - One Night Stand.
OOO - out of (the) office.
OPCCOG - Oxfordshire Primary Care Commissioning Operational Group.
OPCS - Office of Population Censuses and Surveys.
OPEL - Operational pressures escalation level (assessment level applied to hospitals in the UK).
ORR - Office of Rail and Road.
ORRU - Operational Response and Resilience Unit.
OS - Ordinance Survey.
OSA - Online Safety Act.
OSCHR - Office for Strategic Coordination of Health Research.
OTC - over the counter.
OU - Open University.
OUP - Oxford University Press.
Oxbridge - Oxford and Cambridge.
Oxon - Oxfordshire (county), alternatively OXF.
P
p - Pence.
PA - personal assistant.
PA - public address.
PAC - (House of Commons) Public Accounts Committee.
PACE - Police and Criminal Evidence (Act).
PACT - Police and Communities Together.
PaDP - Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command.
PAL - Phase Alternating Line (video system in the UK).
PAOS - Peterborough Artists Open Studio organisation.
PAYE - pay as you earn.
PC - Police Constable.
PCC - parochial church council.
PCC - Police and Crime Commissioner.
PCR - Polymerase Chain Reaction.
PCSC - Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts (Act).
PCSO - police community support officers.
PD - Police Dog.
PDA - Public Display of Affection.
PDC - Professional Darts Corporation.
PE - physical education.
PECT - Peterborough Environment City Trust.
PEV - Provincial Espiscopal Visitor.
PFA - Professional Footballers' Association.
PFA - Please find attached (in email).
PFAS - Per- polyfluoroalkyl substances.
PFCC - Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.
PGCE - Post-graduate Certificate in Education.
PGMOL - Professional Game Match Officials Limited.
PHE - Public Health England.
Pip - personal independence payments.
PJA - Professional Jockeys Association.
PLC - public limited company.
PLP - Parliamentary Labour Party.
PM - Prime Minister.
PMSA - Public Monuments and Sculpture Association.
PMQs - Prime Minister's question time.
PNFS - Peak & Northern Footpaths Society.
POSH - port out, starboard home.
PPC - Prospective Parliamentary Candidate.
PPE - philosophy, politics and economics.
PPE - Personal Protective Equipment.
PPT - Parish Church of St. Peter, St. Paul and St. Thomas of Canterbury, Bovey Tracey.
PRA - Petrol Retailers Association.
Prof. - Professor.
PSA - Prostate-specific antigen.
PSA - Psychoactive Substances Act.
PSA - Phone-paid Services Authority.
PSI - pound per square inch.
PSNC - Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee.
PSNI - Police Service of Northern Ireland.
PSR - Profit and Sustainability Rules (in the Premier League).
PTE - passenger transport executives.
PUA - Primary Urban Area.
PWLB - Public Works Loans Board.
Q
QA - quality assurance.
Q&A - question and answer.
QAA - Quality Assurance Agency.
QC - Queen's Council (barrister).
QED - quod erat demonstrandum ("what was to be shown").
QI - short for Quite Interesting - a British comedy panel game on the BBC.
QNIS - Queen's Nursing Institute Scotland.
QPR - Queens Park Rangers.
QRA - Quick Reaction Alert.
QR - Quick Response (as in QR code).
QUANGO - quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisation.
QUB - Queen's University Belfast.
R
RA - Royal Academy.
RA - Royal Artillery.
RAAC - Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.
RAC - Royal Automobile Club.
Raac - Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.
RADA - Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
Radar - RAdio Detection And Ranging.
RAF - Royal Air Force.
RAM - Royal Academy of Music.
RAMM - Royal Albert Memorial Museum (Exeter).
RAPTC - Royal Army Physical Training Corps.
RAU - Royal Agriculture University.
RAVEC - Royal and VIP Executive Committee.
RBOS - Royal Bank of Scotland.
RCA - Royal College of Art.
RCN - Royal College of Nursing.
RCVS - Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
Rd - Road.
RDG - Rail Delivery Group.
REME - Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.
RFC - rugby football club.
RHA - Road Haulage Association.
RHDV - Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus.
RHS - Royal Horticultural Society.
RIBA - Royal Institute of British Architects.
RIB - rigid inflatable boat.
RLUK - Research Libraries UK.
RMJM - Robert Matthew Johnson Marshall - architecture and design group founded in Edinburgh.
RMT - National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers.
RN - Royal Navy.
RNCM - Royal Northern College of Music.
RND - Red Nose Day.
RNIB - Royal National Institute of Blind People.
RNLI - Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
RNS - Regulatory News Service.
ROE - Return on equity.
ROH - Royal Opera House.
RSC - Royal Society of Chemistry.
RSC - Royal Shakespeare Company.
RSGS - Royal Scottish Geographical Society. Read more
RSPB - Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
RSPCA - Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
RUG - Rail User Group.
RUSI - Royal United Services Institute.
RYS - Royal Yacht Squadron.
S
SACEUR - Supreme Allied Commander Europe.
SAGE - Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies.
SAHM - South Asian Heritage Month.
SANPUDY - Still alive, not pushing up daisies yet.*
SAS - Special Air Service.
SAS - Surfers Against Sewage.
SASA - Scottish Amateur Swimming Association.
SBS - Special Boat Service.
SC - Scotland.
SCC - Surrey County Council.
SCCRC - Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission.
Scold's bride aka brank, a form of 16th and 17th punishment for "nagging" wives.
Scuba - Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus.
SCT - Scotland.
SDCF - Safer Drugs Consumption Facility.
SDLP - Social Democratic and Labour Party (Northern Ireland).
SDO - Special Development Order.
SDP - Social Democratic Party (defunct political party in the UK).
SEC - Scottish Event Campus.
SEISS - Self-Employment Income Support Scheme.
SELNEC - South East Lancashire North East Cheshire (defunct).
SELT - Secure English Language Test.
SEMH - social, emotional and mental health.
SENCO - Special educational needs coordinator.
SEND - Special educational needs and disabilities.
SFO - Serious Fraud Office.
SGA - Scottish Gamekeepers Association.
SGS - Stockport Grammar School.
SGSA - Sports Ground Safety Authority.
SHAPE - Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe.
SHPO - Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
SIAC - Special Immigration Appeals Commission.
SIDF - Sheffield International Documentary Festival.
SINCs - Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation.
SIS - Secret Intelligence Service.
SJP - Single Justice Procedure.
Slapps - strategic lawsuits against public participation.
SMC - Scottish Mountaineering Club.
SME - Small and Medium-sized Enterprise.
SMG - Science Museum Group.
SNH - Scottish National Heritage.
SNP - Scottish National Party.
SOAS - School of Oriental and African Studies.
SPAM - Special Processed American Meat.
SPCB - Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body.
Spi-M - Scientific Pandemic Influenza Modelling group.
SPM - Sub-postmaster.
SPT - Strathclyde Partnership for Transport - Read more.
SRA - Solicitors Regulation Authority.
SS - screw steamer.
SSSI - Site of Special Scientific Interest.
SSTP - Sheffield Street Trees Partnership.
STAFF - Status Training And Further Facilities (NHS).
STD - Subscriber Trunk Dialling.
STDs - Sexually Transmitted Diseases.
SW - Southern Water.
SWASFT - South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust.
SWP - Socialist Workers Party.
SWP - South Wales Police.
SWR - South Western Railway.
SWT - Scottish Wildlife Trust.
SWW - South West Water.
SYHA - Scottish Youth Hostel Association.
SYMCA - South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.
SYPTE - South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive.
T
TA - Territorial Army.
TASER - Thomas A Swift Electric Rifle.
TAU - Tactical Aid Unit (Greater Manchester Police).
TBA - to be announced.
TCCB - Test and County Cricket Board.
TDRA - Teddington Direct River Abstraction.
TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language.
TERF - trans exclusionary radical feminists.
TES - Times Educational Supplement.
TfGM - Transport for Greater Manchester.
TfL - Transport for London.
TGIF - thank God it's Friday.
THST - Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust.
TLS - Times Literary Supplement.
TMS - Test Match Special.
TOTP - Top of the Pops.
TPS - Telephone Preference Service.
TPT - Trans Pennine Trail.
TPUK - Turning Point UK.
TSSA - Transport Salaried Staffs' Association.
TT - Tourist Trophy (motorbike races on the Isle of Man.)
TUC - Trade Union Congress.
TUV - Traditional Unionist Voice.
TVL - Transient Visitor Levy.
tysm - thank you so much (texting).
U
UCFB - University Campus of Football Business.
UCL - University College London.
UCLES - University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate.
UCML - University Council of Modern Languages.
UCO - Undercover operative.
UCU - University & College Union.
UDA - Ulster Defence Association (Northern Ireland).
UDP - Ulster Democratic Party. (Northern Ireland).
UJS - Union of Jewish Students.
UK - United Kingdom (of Great Britain and Northern Ireland).
UKA - UK Athletics - the governing body for the sport of athletics in the United Kingdom.
UKAD - UK Anti-Doping.
UKHSA - UK Health and Security Agency.
UKIP - The UK Independence Party.
UKLFI - UK Lawyers for Israel.
UKMTO - United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations.
UKRI - UK Research and Innovation.
UKSPF - UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
UKSV - United Kingdom Security Vetting.
UKVI - UK Visas and Immigration.
UKWMO - United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation.
ULEZ - Ultra Low Emission Zone. Read more.
UMIST - University of Manchester Institute of Science & Technology.
UNODC - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
URC - United Reformed Church.
USDAW - Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers.
USO - universal service obligation.
USW - University of South Wales.
UTR - Unique Taxpayer Reference.
UVF - Ulster Volunteer Force (Northern Ireland).
UVW - United Voices of the World (trade union for low-paid, migrant and precarious workers).
UWO - Unexplained Wealth Orders.
V
V&A - Victoria and Albert Museum.
VAR - Video Assistant Referee.
VAT - Value Added Tax (presently 20%).
VC - Victoria Cross.
VE Day - Victory in Europe Day (8 May 1945).
VIP - very important person.
VJ Day - Victory over Japan Day (15 August 1945).
VOC - Variants of Concern (related to Covid-19).
VR - Virtual Reality.
VSEL - Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering, Ltd (now BAE Systems).
VUI - Variants under Investigation (related to Covid-19).
W
WAAF - Women's Auxiliary Air Force.
WAG - Welsh Assembly Government.
WAGs - wives and girlfriends.
WAL - Wales.
WASP - Wealdstone Antisocial Behaviour Partnership.
WASPI - Women Against State Pension Inequality.
WBA - West Bromwich Albion.
WC - water closet (toilet).
WCC - Westminster City Council.
WEEE - Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment.
WFD - Water Framework Directive.
WFH - work(ing) from home.
WLO - whole-life order (sentence for a crime without release).
WLMHT - West London Mental Health NHS Trust.
WLS - Wales.
WLTM - Would Like To Meet.
WORD - Wales Office of Research and Development for Health and Social Care.
WPBSA - World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association.
WRAC - Women's Royal Army Corps.
WRAPS - wellness recovery action plans.
WSPU - Women's Social and Political Union.
WSTA - Wine & Spirit Trade Association.
WZF - Wheeled Zimmer Frame.
X
XL - extra large.
XR - Extinction Rebellion.
XTC - 70s band.
Y
YEAABA - Ye Amphibious Ancients Bathing Association (in Broughty Ferry, Scotland).
YEF - Youth Endowment Fund.
YHA - Youth Hostel Association.
YMCA - Young Men's Christian Association (founded in London in 1844).
YOLO - you only live once.
YOS - Youth Offending Service.
YSP - Yorkshire Sculpture Park.
Z
Zn - Zinc.
ZSL - Zoological Society of London.
zzz - sleepy.
* personal acronym submitted by reader David.
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