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IMO

American

Also imo, or IMHO

abbreviation

in my (honest/humble) opinion.

IMO ¹ British

abbreviation

text messaging in my opinion
International Maritime Organization

"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

Imo ² British

/ ˈiːməʊ /

noun

a state of SE Nigeria. Capital: Owerri. Pop:3 934 899 (2006). Area: 5100 sq km (1969 sq miles)

"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 IMO

First recorded in 1980–85; from its use in digital communications

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.

The IMO has information that some ships have started to sail but that it still needed to verify this as "some ships turn off their identification systems in order not to be targeted", he said.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said the "humanitarian corridor" would "evacuate ships in the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz".

From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026

The IMO said the measure "aims to protect the lives of seafarers" and mobilise trapped vessels while "avoiding military attacks".

From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026

Last year, it obtained a new IMO number in a move that analysts said was almost unheard of.

From BBC • Jan. 23, 2026

The IMO is a proponent of a technology to apply encrypted "digital signatures" to electronic bills of lading.

From Crime and Corruption by Vaknin, Samuel

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