APR
Abbreviation with 3 meanings
| Stands for | April |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 3 |
| Categories | Units & Measurements, Business & Finance, Medical |
| Also written | Apr |
APR has three meanings. The most common are April (month) and Annual percentage rate (personal finance); it can also stand for Abdominoperineal resection.
Meanings of APR at a glance
| # | APR stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | April | Units & Measurements › Month |
| 2 | Annual percentage rate | Business & Finance › Personal Finance |
| 3 | Abdominoperineal resection | Medical › Surgical |
1. April (Apr)
Units & Measurements · Month Abbreviations
The fourth month, with 30 days. Its name comes from Latin Aprilis, whose origin is uncertain: ancient writers linked it to aperire, "to open", as buds open in spring, while many modern scholars connect it with the goddess Aphrodite.
Example: Federal tax returns are due Apr 15 unless that date falls on a weekend or holiday.
AP style spells out April in all cases, so Apr appears mostly in tables, calendars and timestamps. April 1 is April Fools' Day in many countries. The UK tax year begins on April 6, a legacy of the old March 25 New Year combined with the days dropped when Britain switched to the Gregorian calendar in 1752.
2. Annual percentage rate
Business & Finance · Personal Finance Abbreviations
Yearly cost of borrowing expressed as a percentage, combining the interest rate with certain fees so loans with different fee structures can be compared. US lenders must disclose it on credit cards, mortgages, auto loans and personal loans; for a credit card with no finance fees, APR equals the interest rate.
Example: The card offers 0% APR on purchases for 15 months, then a variable APR of 24.99%.
Required by the Truth in Lending Act of 1968. APR ignores compounding, so with monthly compounding the true annual cost is slightly higher; its savings-side counterpart, APY, does include compounding. A credit card can carry several APRs at once for purchases, balance transfers, cash advances and penalties. A mortgage APR above the note rate signals points and fees. Pronounced as letters.
3. Abdominoperineal resection
Medical · Surgical Abbreviations
Operation for low rectal and anal cancers that removes the rectum, anus and sphincter muscles through abdominal and perineal incisions, leaving a permanent end colostomy. It is reserved for tumors too close to the sphincters for a sphincter-saving resection.
Example: APR with end colostomy for low rectal cancer invading the sphincter complex.
First described by English surgeon W. Ernest Miles in 1908, it is still sometimes called the Miles procedure. Perineal wound healing problems are common, especially after radiation. Total mesorectal excision principles apply to the abdominal portion. In laboratory medicine APR can mean acute phase reactant.
Related abbreviations
More month abbreviations
See all 12 month abbreviations →
More personal finance abbreviations
- 457(b) – Deferred compensation plan (Internal Revenue Code section 457(b))
- 529 – Qualified tuition program (Internal Revenue Code section 529)
- ABLE – Achieving a Better Life Experience account
- AER – Annual equivalent rate
- APRC – Annual percentage rate of charge
- APY – Annual percentage yield
- AU – Authorized user
- BT – Balance transfer
See all 69 personal finance abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.