ATF
Abbreviation with 2 meanings
| Stands for | Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 2 |
| Categories | Government & Politics, Transportation & Travel |
ATF has two meanings. It stands for Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (US federal agency) or Automatic transmission fluid (automotive).
Meanings of ATF at a glance
| # | ATF stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives | Government & Politics › US Federal Agency |
| 2 | Automatic transmission fluid | Transportation & Travel › Automotive |
1. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Government & Politics · US Federal Agency Abbreviations
Enforces federal firearms and explosives laws, licenses gun dealers and manufacturers, investigates arson and bombings, and traces guns recovered at crime scenes. Part of the Justice Department, it is led by a Senate-confirmed Director.
Example: ATF investigators traced the rifle to a licensed dealer in another state.
ATF became an independent Treasury bureau in 1972 and moved to the Justice Department in 2003 under the Homeland Security Act, adding "Explosives" to its name while keeping the familiar three letters. Tax collection on alcohol and tobacco stayed at Treasury in the new Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB).
2. Automatic transmission fluid
Transportation & Travel · Automotive Abbreviations
Hydraulic fluid that lubricates, cools and transmits power inside automatic transmissions, typically dyed red to distinguish it from engine oil. Each manufacturer specifies its own ATF type.
Example: Pink ATF puddles under the front of the car point to a leaking transmission cooler line.
Common specifications include GM's Dexron and Ford's Mercon families, while many newer cars require proprietary fluids. Using the wrong fluid can damage clutches and cause shift problems. Some makers advertise "lifetime" fluid, but many mechanics recommend changes every 50,000 to 100,000 miles. In US government, ATF is the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Related abbreviations
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