2 synonyms for PDF, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A file format for documents that keeps the same layout, fonts and images on every device, so a page looks the same however it is opened or printed.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
portable document format
document file
How to use PDF
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
save as a PDF
export to PDF
a scanned PDF
fillable PDF
PDF reader
Everyday word in office, legal and academic settings. Written in capitals; the verb use ("PDF it") is informal.
Etymology
An initialism of Portable Document Format. The format was created at Adobe in the early 1990s and was published as an open ISO standard, ISO 32000, in 2008.
Full origin of PDF →Frequently asked questions
Is PDF owned by Adobe?
No. Adobe created the format and still makes popular software for reading and editing PDFs, but the format itself was released as an open ISO standard (ISO 32000) in 2008. Anyone can build software that reads or writes PDF files without a licence from Adobe.
What is the difference between a PDF and a Word document?
A Word document is meant to be edited, so its layout can reflow depending on the software, fonts and settings on the machine opening it. A PDF is meant to be viewed and printed, so it carries its layout and fonts with it and appears the same everywhere. That makes PDF the usual choice for a final version and Word for a working draft.
Can a PDF be edited?
Yes, with software designed for it, though editing is generally more awkward than in a word processor because the file stores a finished page rather than a flowing document. Some PDFs are simply scanned images of paper, in which case the text has to be recognised before it can be searched or changed.
