abbreviation
FW
eff-DUB-uhl-yoo
FW (abbreviation) means Forward: a tag placed at the front of an email subject line to show the message is being passed on from someone else. Example: “My inbox is full of FW: messages my dad keeps sending me.”
abbreviation
1
Forward: a tag placed at the front of an email subject line to show the message is being passed on from someone else.
"My inbox is full of FW: messages my dad keeps sending me."
"Strip the FW: from the subject before you send it to the client."
2
technical Firmware: the low-level software built into a device to control its hardware.
"A FW update finally fixed the Bluetooth dropouts."
How to use FW
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA short way of writing 'forwarded' at the start of an email.
When to use it
Written only. FW: is the prefix used by Microsoft Outlook, so it turns up constantly in workplace email.
Common pairings
FW: subject line
FW update
FW version
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My inbox is full of _____: messages my dad keeps sending me.
Etymology
An abbreviation of forward in email use, and of firmware in computing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between FW and FWD?
Nothing in meaning: both mark an email that is being passed on. The difference is which program wrote it, as Outlook inserts FW: while Gmail and most others insert Fwd:.
What does RE: mean compared with FW:?
RE: marks a reply to a message you received, while FW: marks a message you are sending on to someone new. A long thread often collects both.
What is the meaning of FW?
"FW" (abbreviation) means forward: a tag placed at the front of an email subject line to show the message is being passed on from someone else.
What are the different meanings of FW?
"FW" has 2 main meanings: 1. Forward: a tag placed at the front of an email subject line to show the message is being passed on from someone else; 2. Firmware: the low-level software built into a device to control its hardware.
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