Ont.
Abbreviation with 3 meanings
| Stands for | Ontario |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 3 |
| Categories | Geography & Places, Technology & Computing, Transportation & Travel |
| Also written | ONT |
Ont. has three meanings. The most common are Ontario (Canadian province and territory) and Optical network terminal (telecom); it can also stand for Ontario International Airport.
Meanings of Ont. at a glance
| # | Ont. stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ontario | Geography & Places › Canadian Province and Territory |
| 2 | Optical network terminal | Technology & Computing › Telecom |
| 3 | Ontario International Airport | Transportation & Travel › Airport Code |
1. Ontario
Geography & Places · Canadian Province and Territory Abbreviations
Traditional abbreviation of Ontario used in Canadian Press datelines (WINDSOR, Ont.), government publications, older maps and many business directories. It follows a city name in news copy, much as US papers write Calif. or Mass.
Example: WINDSOR, Ont. — Traffic backed up for kilometres at the Ambassador Bridge on Friday.
Ottawa and Toronto stand alone in most Canadian datelines without Ont., while smaller cities such as London need it to avoid confusion with London, England. Mailing addresses must use ON. The name likely comes from an Iroquoian word for great lake.
2. Optical network terminal (ONT)
Technology & Computing · Telecom Abbreviations
Device installed in a home or business that converts light signals on a fiber-optic line into electrical signals for an Ethernet connection to a router. It is the fiber equivalent of a modem.
Example: If the ONT's PON light is red, the fiber line itself has a fault.
Many providers install the ONT on a wall near where the fiber enters the building, sometimes combined with the Wi-Fi router. A related term, ONU (optical network unit), is often used interchangeably. Some ONTs offer telephone ports and battery backup for landline service during power outages.
3. Ontario International Airport (ONT)
Transportation & Travel · Airport Code Abbreviations
Airport serving California's Inland Empire, located in Ontario, about 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. It is a major West Coast cargo hub, with large UPS and FedEx operations.
Example: For family in Riverside, ONT is easier than fighting traffic to LAX.
ICAO code KONT. Not to be confused with the Canadian province: the airport is in the city of Ontario, California. Control passed from the City of Los Angeles to a local airport authority in 2016 after years of dispute over declining service. Passenger traffic has since recovered strongly.
Related abbreviations
More Canadian province and territory abbreviations
- NT – Northwest Territories
- NU – Nunavut
- NWT – Northwest Territories
- ON – Ontario
- PE – Prince Edward Island
- PEI – Prince Edward Island
- PQ – Province of Quebec
- QC – Quebec
See all 26 Canadian province and territory abbreviations →