i.e.
Abbreviation with 4 meanings
| Stands for | Id est (that is) |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 4 |
| Categories | Writing & Everyday, Medical, Geography & Places |
| Also written | IE |
i.e. has four meanings. The most common are Id est (that is) (Latin) and Infective endocarditis (cardiology); it can also stand for Ireland and Inland Empire.
Meanings of i.e. at a glance
| # | i.e. stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Id est (that is) | Writing & Everyday › Latin |
| 2 | Infective endocarditis | Medical › Cardiology |
| 3 | Ireland | Geography & Places › Country Code |
| 4 | Inland Empire | Geography & Places › Region |
1. Id est (that is)
Writing & Everyday · Latin Abbreviations
Introduces a restatement, clarification or the complete specification of what came before, not a sample. If the words after it could be replaced by "in other words" or "specifically," i.e. is correct; if they are only examples, e.g. is needed.
Example: The form must be signed by the account holder (i.e., the person named on the bill), not by another household member.
Pronounced "that is" or as the letters "eye-ee." Like e.g., it takes a following comma in American usage and is written lowercase with two periods and no internal space; it is not italicized despite being Latin. Swapping i.e. and e.g. is one of the errors editors flag most often, and it changes the meaning: "fruit (i.e., apples)" claims apples are the only fruit intended.
2. Infective endocarditis (IE)
Medical · Cardiology Abbreviations
Infection of the heart's inner lining, usually the valves, by bacteria or fungi that form vegetations. Staphylococcus aureus is now the leading cause in high-income countries, and risk factors include injection drug use, prosthetic valves, implanted devices and prior endocarditis.
Example: Fever, new regurgitant murmur and S. aureus bacteremia: TEE shows a 1.2 cm mitral vegetation, IE confirmed.
Diagnosis uses the Duke criteria, updated in 2023 with the International Society for Cardiovascular Infectious Diseases. Classic signs include Osler nodes, Janeway lesions, splinter hemorrhages and Roth spots, though they are now uncommon. Treatment needs weeks of intravenous antibiotics and sometimes valve surgery. Dental antibiotic prophylaxis is reserved for the highest-risk patients, such as those with prosthetic valves. The Latin "i.e." (id est) is unrelated.
3. Ireland (IE)
Geography & Places · Country Code Abbreviations
Ireland, capital Dublin, alpha-3 IRL, has used the euro since 1999 and is the EU base of many US technology and pharmaceutical companies. The .ie domain is managed by a Dublin registry that requires a connection to Ireland.
Example: Irish IBANs begin with IE and contain 22 characters.
The vehicle sign is IRL. The slug ie also matches the Latin i.e. (that is), and IE is the old Internet Explorer browser. Northern Ireland, part of the UK, uses GB.
4. Inland Empire (IE)
Geography & Places · Region Abbreviations
Region east of Los Angeles made up of Riverside and San Bernardino counties, with about 4.7 million people. It is one of the country's largest warehouse and logistics hubs.
Example: Warehouse jobs in the IE grew faster than anywhere else in Southern California.
The name dates from the early 20th century, when the area was known for citrus groves. IE is also Ireland's ISO code and the old Internet Explorer browser.
Related abbreviations
More Latin abbreviations
- F.D. – Fidei defensor (Defender of the Faith)
- fec. – Fecit (made it)
- fl. – Floruit (flourished)
- i.a. – Inter alia (among other things)
- ibid. – Ibidem (in the same place)
- Id. – Idem (the same)
- inst. – Instante mense (this month)
- loc. cit. – Loco citato (in the place cited)
See all 53 Latin abbreviations →
More cardiology abbreviations
- HTN – Hypertension
- IABP – Intra-aortic balloon pump
- ICD – Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator
- ICM – Ischemic cardiomyopathy
- iFR – Instantaneous wave-free ratio
- IHD – Ischemic heart disease
- ILR – Implantable loop recorder
- ISR – In-stent restenosis
See all 229 cardiology abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.