ADM
Abbreviation with 3 meanings
| Stands for | Admiral |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 3 |
| Categories | Military, Transportation & Travel, Organizations & Companies |
ADM has three meanings. The most common are Admiral (US Navy and coast guard rank) and Additional dealer markup (automotive); it can also stand for Archer-Daniels-Midland.
Meanings of ADM at a glance
| # | ADM stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Admiral | Military › US Navy and Coast Guard Rank |
| 2 | Additional dealer markup | Transportation & Travel › Automotive |
| 3 | Archer-Daniels-Midland | Organizations & Companies › Company and Brand |
1. Admiral
Military · US Navy and Coast Guard Rank Abbreviations
Highest active Navy and Coast Guard rank, pay grade O-10, worn as four stars. Four-star admirals include the chief of naval operations and vice chief, the commanders of major fleets, combatant commanders such as the head of Indo-Pacific Command, and the Commandant of the Coast Guard.
Example: ADM Reynolds told the Senate panel that shipbuilding delays were the Navy's top concern.
The word comes from Arabic "amir al-," commander of, by way of medieval Latin and French. AP style writes Adm. before a name. Like other three- and four-star grades, the rank is held only while serving in a designated position, and officers who leave such a post without another typically retire.
2. Additional dealer markup
Transportation & Travel · Automotive Abbreviations
Extra charge some car dealers add above the manufacturer's suggested retail price on high-demand models, listed on a supplementary sticker. ADMs became widespread during the vehicle shortages of 2021 and 2022.
Example: They wanted a $15,000 ADM on the new Bronco, so we walked out.
Also called "market adjustment." Automakers generally cannot legally set dealer prices in the US because dealers are independent businesses, though some manufacturers pressured dealers to drop markups. Shoppers can avoid ADMs by ordering vehicles or choosing dealers that pledge to sell at MSRP.
3. Archer-Daniels-Midland
Organizations & Companies · Company and Brand Abbreviations
American agribusiness and food-processing company that trades and processes grains and oilseeds into food ingredients, animal feed and biofuels. Headquartered in Chicago.
Example: ADM said strong soybean crushing margins lifted quarterly profit.
Founded in 1902 in Minneapolis by George Archer and John Daniels as a linseed-oil crushing business; it added "Midland" after acquiring the Midland Linseed Products Company in 1923. It is one of the four big grain traders known as the "ABCD" companies, with Bunge, Cargill and Louis Dreyfus.
Related abbreviations
More US Navy and coast guard rank abbreviations
- AN – Airman (US Navy)
- CAPT – Captain (US Navy and Coast Guard)
- CDR – Commander
- CMDCM – Command Master Chief
- CN – Constructionman
- CPO – Chief Petty Officer
- CWO – Chief Warrant Officer
- ENS – Ensign
See all 31 US Navy and coast guard rank abbreviations →