Penn.
Geography & Places abbreviation · US State Traditional
| Stands for | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Categories | Geography & Places |
Penn. stands for Pennsylvania, a US state traditional abbreviation.
Informal and older abbreviation of Pennsylvania found in 18th- and 19th-century documents and in some business names. Modern AP, GPO and Bluebook style all use Pa. instead, and Penn. is rarely seen in current edited writing.
Example: The deed, recorded in Chester County, Penn., in 1798, describes the farm's boundaries.
Usage notes
Penn on its own usually means the University of Pennsylvania, while Penn State is Pennsylvania State University, a different school. The state's name means Penn's woods and honors Admiral Sir William Penn, father of the colony's founder. The postal code is PA.