abbreviation Uncommon

DP

dee-PEE

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DP (abbreviation) means Display picture: the small profile photo shown beside your name on a messaging app or social network. Example: “Nice DP, is that from the wedding?”

abbreviation

informal Display picture: the small profile photo shown beside your name on a messaging app or social network.

"Nice DP, is that from the wedding?"

"He changed his DP to a picture of his dog."

Dynamic programming: a method in computing and mathematics that solves a large problem by breaking it into overlapping smaller problems and storing each result so it is only worked out once.

"The interview question is a classic DP problem."

"You can solve it with recursion, but DP brings it down to linear time."

In baseball, a double play: a single defensive sequence that puts out two runners.

"They turned a DP to end the inning."

How to use DP

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishIn chat it means your profile photo; in programming it means dynamic programming.

When to use it

The display-picture sense is very common in Indian and other South Asian English and across messaging apps generally; elsewhere people more often say profile picture or pfp. The technical senses are written in capitals.

Memory tip

Judge by context: a friend commenting on your photo means display picture, a coding discussion means dynamic programming.

Easily confused with

DP → pfp →

Common pairings

change your DP WhatsApp DP DP solution turn a DP

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “DP” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Nice _____, is that from the wedding?

Synonyms

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profile picture avatar pfp

Related words

avatar incarnation embodiment pfp

Frequently asked questions

What does DP mean on WhatsApp?

It means display picture, the photo shown next to your name in chats and contact lists. Asking someone to change their DP simply means asking them to update that photo.

What is the difference between DP and pfp?

They mean the same thing, a profile image. DP is the usual form in South Asian English and on messaging apps, while pfp is more common on Western social platforms such as Discord and X.

What does DP mean in coding?

Dynamic programming: solving a problem by splitting it into smaller sub-problems and reusing their stored answers instead of recomputing them. It is a standard technique for optimisation and counting problems in technical interviews.

What is the meaning of DP?

"DP" (abbreviation) means display picture: the small profile photo shown beside your name on a messaging app or social network.

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avatar incarnation embodiment pfp