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• EMP
  EMP

  electromagnetic pulse: a burst of electromagnetic energy produced by a nuclear explosion in the atmosphere, considered capable of widespread damage to power lines, telecommunications, and electronic equipment.
• emp.
  emp.

  abbreviation

  (in prescriptions) a plaster.
• Emp.
  Emp.

  abbreviation

  Emperor.
• e.m.p.
  e.m.p.

  abbreviation

  (in prescriptions) after the manner prescribed; as directed.

EMP

¹ American  

1. electromagnetic pulse: a burst of electromagnetic energy produced by a nuclear explosion in the atmosphere, considered capable of widespread damage to power lines, telecommunications, and electronic equipment.

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emp. ² American  

abbreviation

1. (in prescriptions) a plaster.

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Emp. ³ American  

abbreviation

1. Emperor.

2. Empire.

3. Empress.

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e.m.p. ⁴ American  

abbreviation

1. (in prescriptions) after the manner prescribed; as directed.

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Etymology

Origin of emp.²

From the Latin word emplastrum

Origin of e.m.p.⁴

From Latin ex mōdō praescrīptō

Example Sentences

Even a single, relatively small nuclear detonation hundreds of miles above the heads of Americans would create an electromagnetic pulse - or EMP - that would have apocalyptic results.

From BBC • May 23, 2025

My time at Hibiscus and EMP, along with my entire culinary background, was rooted in high-end, precise techniques and classical training.

From Salon • Nov. 13, 2024

When Tennant was diagnosed with cancer in 2011, Novoselic and others played a benefit concert at EMP to help pay her medical expenses.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 19, 2024

Among the targets of EMP weapons are air traffic control systems, instrument landing and navigation systems and communications systems.

From Washington Times • Sep. 6, 2023

It’s nowhere near as cool as our real bug-out, though—a hidden safe house our family built deep in the woods in the event of a nuclear attack, or EMP, or any other end-of-the-world scenario.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman