Nam

¹ American

[nahm, nam] / nɑm, næm /

Or 'Nam

noun

Informal.

Vietnam.

Nam ² American

[nahm] / nɑm /

noun

a former name of Chao Phraya.

NAM ³ American

Or N.A.M.

abbreviation

National Association of Manufacturers.

Nam ¹ British

/ næm /

noun

informal Vietnam

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

NAM ² British

abbreviation

Namibia (international car registration)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of Nam

First recorded in 1965–70; by shortening

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Nam said there were a few times he secretly delivered packets of miso soup to Kish during filming.

From Salon • Feb. 28, 2026

“A few IT workers can easily fund a missile,” said Nam, head of a Seoul-based North Korean human-rights group called People for Successful Corean Reunification, or PSCORE.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 16, 2026

This upcoming Spring/Summer 2026 season has been inspired by Vietnam's former ruling Nguyen dynasty, notably Emperor Khai Dinh and the last empress consort, Nam Phuong, who both lived under colonial French rule.

From Barron's • Jan. 29, 2026

Faithful ally Eric Nam sternly points out to him that his rants are throwing off everyone else’s game.

From Salon • Jan. 15, 2026

Sergeant Simpson had six days left in Nam.

From "Fallen Angels" by Walter Dean Myers

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023