PSA
PSA (noun) means a short message broadcast or posted in the public interest, warning or informing people about something such as health, safety or a deadline. Example: “The council ran a PSA about the change to bin collections.”
How to Use PSA
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA short public notice telling everyone something they need to know; in medicine, a blood test relating to the prostate.
The broadcast and online senses are everyday; the medical sense is clinical and appears with words like level, test and screening.
Context tells you which PSA is meant: if it is followed by "level", "test" or "reading", it is the medical one.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The council ran a _____ about the change to bin collections.
Etymology
An initialism of public service announcement.
Synonyms
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does PSA mean in a social media post?
It stands for public service announcement and is used, usually half-jokingly, to introduce something the writer thinks everyone should be aware of. It signals "listen up, this is useful" rather than an official notice.
What is a normal PSA level?
Below about 4 nanograms per millilitre has traditionally been treated as normal, but the threshold rises with age and varies between labs. A raised PSA can be caused by infection, an enlarged prostate or recent exercise as well as cancer, so results are always interpreted by a doctor alongside other findings.
What is the difference between a PSA and an advert?
An advert is paid for and promotes a product or brand. A PSA carries information in the public interest, is usually produced by a government body or charity, and broadcasters often carry it free of charge.