Organization & Company Abbreviations

454 abbreviations in 5 subcategories

Well-known companies, brands, nonprofits, charities, unions, professional associations and media organizations that are usually known by their initials. Entries give the full name, what the organization does and where it is based.

• Company and Brand
• International Organization
• Nonprofit
• Professional Association and Labor Union
• Media and Broadcasting

Company and Brand Abbreviations

Well-known companies and consumer brands that are usually referred to by their initials, from technology firms such as IBM and AMD to automakers, banks, retailers, restaurant chains and fashion houses. Each entry explains what the letters originally stood for, or notes when a company has made the initials its official name, along with its founding, headquarters and main business. Many of these expansions are now historical, so the company's current official name is given where it differs.

All 116 company and brand abbreviations →

International Organization Abbreviations

Abbreviations for intergovernmental organizations, United Nations bodies and agencies, international courts, military alliances, regional blocs, trade agreements, development banks and forums such as the G7 and G20. Entries give the founding year, headquarters, membership and mandate of each body. Many organizations also use initials from French or Spanish (OTAN for NATO, ONU for the UN), which are noted where readers are likely to meet them.

All 108 international organization abbreviations →

Nonprofit Abbreviations

Abbreviations for well-known charities, advocacy groups, think tanks, youth and service organizations, veterans' groups, health charities and humanitarian NGOs, along with general terms from the nonprofit sector such as NGO and 501(c)(3). Descriptions are neutral and factual: they give each group's founding, headquarters, mission and legal status without endorsing or criticizing its positions.

All 91 nonprofit abbreviations →

Professional Association and Labor Union Abbreviations

Abbreviations for professional societies, trade associations, standards bodies and labor unions in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. Professional associations set ethics codes, publish journals, write standards and lobby for their members, while unions bargain collectively over wages and working conditions. Entries give the full name, founding year, headquarters and what each body is best known for.

All 95 professional association and labor union abbreviations →

Media and Broadcasting Abbreviations

Television networks, cable channels, public broadcasters, news agencies, newspapers and film studios that are known by their initials, from the BBC and CNN to the AP, NYT and MGM. Many networks were named for corporate parents or original formats, such as Home Box Office or Music Television, and some no longer use the expansion at all. Entries give the full name, launch date, ownership history and what each outlet is known for.

All 53 media and broadcasting abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.