zed
Zed (noun) means the British and Commonwealth name for the letter Z. Example: “He spelled it out: "zed, e, d" — Z-E-D.”
How to use zed
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWhat British, Canadian, and most Commonwealth speakers call the letter Z.
British English says "zed"; American English says "zee." Both refer to the same letter.
Word forms
zedded past tense, zeds plural, zeds singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He spelled it out: "_____, e, d" — Z-E-D.
Etymology
From Old French zede, ultimately from Greek zēta — the same root behind the American name "zee," which developed later by analogy with "bee" and "dee."
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “zed” mean?
The word “zed” means the British and Commonwealth name for the letter Z. In plain terms, what British, Canadian, and most Commonwealth speakers call the letter Z.
How do you pronounce “zed”?
“Zed” is pronounced zehd (/zɛd/ in IPA).
How do you use “zed” in a sentence?
Here is “zed” used in a sentence: “He spelled it out: "zed, e, d" — Z-E-D.”
What is another word for “zed”?
Words with a similar meaning to “zed” include zee, izzard and uzzard.
What part of speech is “zed”?
“Zed” is a noun.
Where does the word “zed” come from?
The word “zed” comes from Old French. From Old French zede, ultimately from Greek zēta — the same root behind the American name "zee," which developed later by analogy with "bee" and "dee.".
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