IE
abbreviation
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IE
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-ie
-ieThe noun-forming suffix -ie, originally the Scottish spelling of -y, first appears about 1400 in pet names and has spread into general usage. It is used to form words that are usually informal (birdie, doggie ), and to form endearing or familiar names (Millie, Susie ) or familiar diminutives (sweetie ).
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i.e.
i.e.abbreviationthat is; that is to say; in other words.
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I.E.
I.E.abbreviationIndo-European.
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ie
ieabbreviationIreland
IE
1 Americanabbreviation
-ie
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American
Also
-y
i.e.
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American
[ahy-ee]
/ ˈaɪˈi /
abbreviation
I.E.
4
American
abbreviation
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Indo-European.
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Industrial Engineer.
i.e.
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British
abbreviation
ie
2
British
abbreviation
IE
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British
abbreviation
-ie
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British
suffix
i.e.
Cultural
Usage
What’s the difference between i.e. and e.g.? The abbreviation i.e. essentially means that is or in other words—you say it before rephrasing what you’ve just said, often to put it in simpler terms. The abbreviation e.g. essentially means for example—you say it before providing an example of the thing you’ve just mentioned. Both are abbreviations of Latin phrases: i.e. stands for the Latin id est (which literally means “that is”); e.g. stands for exemplī grātiā (which literally means “for the sake of example”). Both are pronounced by saying the two individual letters in the term. Both are commonly used in writing, but i.e. is much more commonly used in speech—most people don’t often say e.g. when speaking (probably because the phrase for example is so common and well understood). Sometimes, people use them in overlapping ways, but this is technically incorrect, since i.e. is meant to indicate a rephrasing, while e.g. is meant to signal that a specific example is going to be given. Of course, both of these things involve an attempt to make what has just been said a little clearer (by clarifying or specifying), so it can be hard to remember when each one is appropriate. To help remember when to use each one, think of the i in i.e. as standing for in other words. Think of the e in e.g. as standing for example (which it pretty much does). Here’s an example of i.e. and e.g. used correctly in the same sentence. Example: The second sewing lesson (i.e., the one starting next week) will cover several different skills (e.g., sewing on a button and sewing a seam). Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between i.e. and e.g.
Etymology
Origin of i.e.
From Latin id est
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:
Instead, he chose Madrid’s IE University, which now has as many American students as Spaniards.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 26, 2026
"A sector so closely tied to international mobility is particularly vulnerable to health, geopolitical, or climate crises," Rafael Pampillon, a professor of economics at IE Business School in Madrid, told AFP.
From Barron's ● Jan. 20, 2026
When I go to the IE, it feels a little like L.A. and I’m not necessarily mad at that.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 3, 2025
Workplaces are increasingly adopting A.I.-powered management software, which could indirectly influence pay by allocating projects and shifts based on employee data, Antonio Aloisi, an associate professor at IE University Law School in Spain, told me.
From Slate ● Oct. 13, 2024
If the vernier zero is to the right of the zero on the arc, the IE is plus and is to be added to any angle you read to get the correct angle.
From Lectures in Navigation by Ernest Gallaudet Draper
The item was so off the radar, Ms. Swanson Beard says, “we had a hard time deciding if we were going to spell it -ie or -ey.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2015
Vocative case, 17; 19, 1; —— of Greek proper names in -ās, 47, 4; —— of adjs. in -ius, 63, 1; 171; —— in -ī for -ie, 25, 1; —— position of, 350, 3.
From New Latin Grammar by Charles E. (Charles Edwin) Bennett
Formerly, however, these words ended in -ie, and the real ending is therefore -s.
From An English Grammar by James Witt Sewell
In the word doggie for dog, lassie for lass, the addition of the -ie makes the word not so much a diminutive as a term of tenderness or endearment.
From A Handbook of the English Language by R. G. (Robert Gordon) Latham
Diminutives are also formed, in colloquial and familiar language, by adding -y or -ie to the names, as Charley, Mousie, &c.
From The New Gresham Encyclopedia Volume 4, Part 1: Deposition to Eberswalde by Various
What we have here might be an example of the Tinkerbell effect, named for the “Peter Pan” character who could be resurrected from death by audience participation, i.e. belief in fairies.
From Salon ● Sep. 14, 2026
“The committee wants evidence that inflation is trending lower — i.e. lower core inflation — to feel comfortable refraining from a rate hike,” said Bill Adams, chief economist at Comerica Bank.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 18, 2026
I believe the show’s weak character development leads to plot confusion — i.e. making things hard to follow for those of us who haven’t read “Fire & Blood.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
More elaborate designs, including hatched bands, grids, and diamond-shaped motifs, also showed evidence of rotation, translation, repetition, and "embedding," i.e., the ability to build hierarchical levels of signs within the same surface.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 9, 2026
No listening to forbidden broadcasts, with certain exceptions, i.e.,
From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank
“So we do get scrappy, and I think that’s what sets the I.E. apart from places like L.A. and O.C.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 22, 2026
“Let’s make this a combined effort,” he told the soldiers participating in the joint drill — although later in the week it was unclear whether the country’s Mighty Barrolle or I.E.
From New York Times ● Oct. 11, 2014
I.E., from $1,000,000,000 in basically recurring revenue — to $0.
From Forbes ● Apr. 25, 2013
Since then, Microsoft, spurred by its rivals' advances, has released the very good I.E.
From Slate ● Feb. 4, 2010
The average weight of gold got by each miner while we were at the 'wet diggin's,' I.E. where water had to be used, was nearly half an ounce or seven dollars' worth a day.
From Tracks of a Rolling Stone by Henry J. (Henry John) Coke
Ministers have said on several occasions they do not think statutory ie legally enforceable guidelines are necessary.
From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2024
It currently stands at around 350, I am told - ie pretty much full.
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2024
"Equal pay claims/payment count as 'revenue', ie day-to-day, spending," Mr Travers added.
From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2023
"I suspect it is pretty bad- ie criminally damning- for him to risk this result which is financially ruinous and predicated on his discovery violations," he tweeted.
From Salon ● Aug. 30, 2023
And ie told me that the lady in charge of the detention home, a Mrs. Swerlin, and her husband were, very good people.
From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
