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Synonyms

VIP

American  
[vee-ahy-pee] / ˈviˈaɪˈpi /
Or V.I.P.
Informal.
  1. very important person.


VIP British  

abbreviation

  1. very important person

  2. visually impaired person

  3. vasoactive intestinal peptide: a polypeptide secreted by the small intestine during digestion and also found in the brain as a neurotransmitter: large amounts in the blood cause diarrhoea

"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

VIP Cultural  
  1. An abbreviation for “V ery I mportant P erson”: “The luncheon will be exclusive, with VIPs only.”


Usage

What does VIP mean? VIP (or V. I. P.) is an abbreviation of very important person. VIP is an informal way to refer to someone who is notable in some way and is given special treatment in a particular setting. It is also used to describe things involving special access for such people, as in phrases like VIP treatment or VIP pass. The plural of VIP is VIPs. Example: The hotel provides additional security for the rooms reserved by VIPs like heads of state.

Etymology

Origin of VIP

First recorded in 1940–45


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.

See Examples For:

On Saturday, at Carson’s Anderson Memorial Park, Shari Sanders of Altadena was found unconscious in the VIP section of the city’s annual jazz festival.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026

The committee which oversees royal and VIP security, Ravec, is set to reconsider the family's level of police protection now that they are full-time residents rather than visitors.

From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026

Alcohol cannot be sold at any sports event, other than in VIP areas.

From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026

I paid $400 for VIP service from Chicago.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026

The VIP booth is lined with red and blue lightbulbs.

From "American Street" by Ibi Zoboi

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