abbreviation

PD

pee-DEE

PD (abbreviation) means Police department, the law-enforcement body of a city or town, usually written after the place name. Example: “NYPD stands for New York City Police Department.”

abbreviation

Police department, the law-enforcement body of a city or town, usually written after the place name.

"NYPD stands for New York City Police Department."

"The local PD is handling the investigation."

medical Parkinson's disease, a progressive neurological disorder that affects movement.

"He was diagnosed with PD in his early sixties."

technical Pupillary distance, the measurement in millimetres between the centres of the pupils, needed to make up a pair of glasses.

"You will need your PD before ordering lenses online."

How to Use PD

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishShort for something like police department, Parkinson's disease or pupillary distance, depending on the subject.

When to use it

Informal shorthand; spell it out on first use in formal writing.

Easily confused with

PD → P.D. → PDF → PhD →

Common pairings

local PD PD diagnosis measure your PD per diem (PD)

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The local _____ is handling the investigation.

Etymology

An initialism, standing for different phrases depending on context.

Origin: English

Frequently Asked Questions

What does PD stand for in a police context?

Police Department. It normally follows the place name, as in LAPD (Los Angeles Police Department) or Chicago PD.

What does PD mean on a glasses prescription?

Pupillary distance — the gap in millimetres between the centres of your two pupils. Lens makers use it to line up the optical centre of each lens with your eye.

What does PD mean in a job listing?

It usually means 'per diem', a daily allowance or a shift worked on a day-by-day basis rather than a fixed contract. In education and HR it can also mean 'professional development'.