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noun

zed

zehd
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Zed (noun) means the British and Commonwealth name for the letter Z. Example: “He spelled it out: "zed, e, d" — Z-E-D.”

noun
1
The British and Commonwealth name for the letter Z.
"He spelled it out: "zed, e, d" — Z-E-D."

How to use zed

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishWhat British, Canadian, and most Commonwealth speakers call the letter Z.

UK vs US

British English says "zed"; American English says "zee." Both refer to the same letter.

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Word forms

Plural
zeds
Third person singular
zeds
Past tense
zedded
Test yourself on “zed” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

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."

Origin: Old French

Z ezed zee izzard uzzard

Related words

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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