noun

HS

aych-ESS

HS (noun) means High school; the secondary school stage in the United States, usually covering ages fourteen to eighteen. Example: “We've known each other since HS.”

noun

informal, chiefly US High school; the secondary school stage in the United States, usually covering ages fourteen to eighteen.

"We've known each other since HS."

"He teaches HS chemistry in Ohio."

How to Use HS

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishShort for high school.

When to use it

Informal shorthand in American texting and school administration. Spell it out in formal writing.

Memory tip

HS in a medical note can mean at bedtime, from Latin hora somni; the reading is context-dependent.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

MS (middle school) HSC hrs →

Common pairings

HS diploma HS senior HS reunion since HS

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We've known each other since _____.

Etymology

An abbreviation of high school.

Origin: English

Frequently Asked Questions

What does HS mean in text messages?

Almost always high school, as in HS reunion or since HS. It is a written shorthand rather than something people say aloud, and the context is normally school, age or a shared past.

What is the difference between HS and MS?

In the American system MS is middle school, roughly ages eleven to fourteen, and HS is high school, roughly fourteen to eighteen. Together with elementary school they make up the standard progression before college.