RWD
Abbreviation with 2 meanings
| Stands for | Rear-wheel drive |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 2 |
| Categories | Transportation & Travel, Medical |
RWD has two meanings. It stands for Rear-wheel drive (automotive) or Real-world data (medical research).
Meanings of RWD at a glance
| # | RWD stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rear-wheel drive | Transportation & Travel › Automotive |
| 2 | Real-world data | Medical › Medical Research |
1. Rear-wheel drive
Transportation & Travel · Automotive Abbreviations
Layout in which the engine powers only the rear wheels, used in most sports cars, many luxury sedans, police cars and traditional pickup trucks. Separating steering at the front from propulsion at the rear gives balanced handling and better towing ability.
Example: The RWD coupe is a blast on dry roads but a handful in the snow without winter tires.
RWD was the standard layout for most cars until the 1970s and 1980s, when FWD took over for economy cars. Enthusiasts value it for neutral balance and the ability to steer with the throttle. On slippery roads RWD cars without electronic aids are prone to oversteer, the rear sliding out. Many luxury makers offer AWD versions of RWD platforms.
2. Real-world data
Medical · Medical Research Abbreviations
Data on patient health status and care collected routinely outside conventional clinical trials, including electronic health records, insurance claims, disease registries, pharmacy data and data from wearables and patient apps. Analysis of RWD produces real-world evidence.
Example: RWD from claims identified 80,000 new users of the drug for the safety study.
The FDA's Sentinel System uses RWD from health plans and health systems to monitor product safety. Data must be checked for completeness, accuracy and coding variation before analysis. Privacy rules govern linking datasets across sources.
Related abbreviations
More automotive abbreviations
- PZEV – Partial zero-emission vehicle
- RCTA – Rear cross-traffic alert
- RFT – Run-flat tire
- RPM – Revolutions per minute
- SCR – Selective catalytic reduction
- SoC – State of charge
- SOHC – Single overhead camshaft
- SRS – Supplemental restraint system
See all 116 automotive abbreviations →
More medical research abbreviations
- RCT – Randomized controlled trial
- ROC – Receiver operating characteristic
- RR – Relative risk
- RRR – Relative risk reduction
- RWE – Real-world evidence
- SD – Standard deviation
- SDV – Source data verification
- SEM – Standard error of the mean
See all 94 medical research abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.