DfT
Abbreviation with 2 meanings
| Stands for | Department for Transport |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 2 |
| Categories | Government & Politics, Science & Engineering |
| Also written | DFT |
DfT has two meanings. It stands for Department for Transport (UK government) or Density functional theory (chemistry).
Meanings of DfT at a glance
| # | DfT stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Department for Transport | Government & Politics › UK Government |
| 2 | Density functional theory | Science & Engineering › Chemistry |
1. Department for Transport
Government & Politics · UK Government Abbreviations
Sets policy for roads, railways, aviation, shipping and local transport in England and for some UK-wide matters. Its executive agencies include the DVLA and the DVSA.
Example: The DfT approved funding for the new rail station.
Created in 2002, it oversees the move toward a publicly owned railway under Great British Railways. Bus and rail franchising, road safety rules in the Highway Code and aviation security policy fall within its remit. Transport in London is largely run by Transport for London under the Mayor.
2. Density functional theory (DFT)
Science & Engineering · Chemistry Abbreviations
Quantum mechanical method that calculates the electronic structure of molecules and solids from the electron density rather than from the full many-electron wavefunction. Its balance of accuracy and speed makes DFT the most widely used approach in computational chemistry and materials science.
Example: DFT calculations at the B3LYP level predicted a reaction barrier of 18 kcal/mol.
Walter Kohn shared the 1998 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for developing density functional theory, alongside John Pople for computational methods. Results depend on the chosen exchange-correlation functional, with names such as B3LYP and PBE. In signal processing DFT means discrete Fourier transform, an unrelated meaning.
Related abbreviations
More UK government abbreviations
- DCMS – Department for Culture, Media and Sport
- Defra – Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
- DESNZ – Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
- DfE – Department for Education
- DHSC – Department of Health and Social Care
- DSIT – Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
- DUP – Democratic Unionist Party
- DVLA – Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
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