pa
noun
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pa-s.
pa
1 American
[pah, paw]
/ pɑ, pɔ /
noun
Informal.
-
pas
plural
Pa
2
American
abbreviation
Physics.
Pa
3
American
Symbol, Chemistry.
PA
4
American
abbreviation
-
Parents' Association.
-
paying agent.
-
Pennsylvania (approved especially for use with zip code).
-
physician's assistant.
-
press agent.
-
public-address system.
Pa.
5
American
abbreviation
p.a.
6
American
abbreviation
-
participial adjective.
-
per annum.
-
press agent.
P.A.
7
American
abbreviation
-
Parents' Association.
-
Insurance. particular average.
-
passenger agent.
-
post adjutant.
-
power of attorney.
-
press agent.
-
public-address system.
-
publicity agent.
-
purchasing agent.
PA
1
British
abbreviation
-
Pennsylvania
-
personal appearance
-
personal assistant
-
military Post Adjutant
-
power of attorney
-
press agent
-
Press Association
-
banking private account
-
public-address system
-
publicity agent
-
Publishers Association
-
purchasing agent
-
insurance particular average
-
(in New Zealand) probationary assistant
-
Panama (international car registration)
pa
2
British
/ pɑː /
noun
-
a Māori village or settlement
-
history a Māori defensive position and settlement on a hilltop
-
to abandon city life in favour of rural life
Pa
3
British
symbol
symbol
Pa.
4
British
abbreviation
pa
5
British
/ pɑː /
noun
pa
6
British
abbreviation
p.a.
7
British
abbreviation
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of pa
Short for papa
Vocabulary lists containing pa
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:
Much of her sophomore album “Vanity” has main character energy, and Lovestory’s “Telenovela,” with its extended metaphors of Barbarella bad bitches, “tragica erotica,” and using “su lengua pa cambiar el canal” is the descriptive centerpiece.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 18, 2025
He also picked up best reggaetón performance for Voy a llevarte pa PR, and best urban music album for Debí Tirar Más Fotos.
From BBC ● Nov. 14, 2025
Do you and your pa bond best over a meal or a pint?
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 15, 2023
“Trumpets,” Zárate instructed three students in the back, “make the introduction sound majestic — pa ra ra ra ra — like a king is coming!”
From New York Times ● Nov. 3, 2022
“So either yer ma or yer pa musta been a caretaker,” Hildy says, snapping off a bite of a turnipy thing then giving me an explanashun.
From "The Knife of Never Letting Go" by Patrick Ness
“It’s a perfect storm of post-pandemic burnout and a re-evaluation of one’s priorities, and also booming AI and a sense of what’s possible,” said Samir Ahmad, 39, who lives in Breinigsville, Pa.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
Charles and Caroline are a handsome couple, with Pa hewn in the rugged spirit immortalized by Michael Landon in the 1970s TV classic.
From Salon ● Jul. 11, 2026
With Pa being a fiddler, music played a significant role in Wilder’s work and Sonnenshine was determined to reflect that; all the songs played in Season 1 are from the books.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 2026
Chris Grouzes, 41, said no one had asked to borrow from his collection of 20 hacky sacks during his nearly two decades of teaching at Penncrest High School in Media, Pa.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 20, 2026
He left the bookcase with us, and Pa took him to the train station.
From "The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs" by Betty G. Birney
“He did not respond to our phone calls, our PA announcements, or multiple other attempts to try to contact him.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
Wright, an American architect known for his innovative designs such as Fallingwater in Mill Run, PA, and the Guggenheim Museum in Manhattan, designed homes that fit into their surroundings.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 9, 2026
PA refers to product area, a term Google uses for divisions such as Google Search.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
Beyond logistical complications, the palace believed the legal judgement expected Tuesday had complicated matters as it could compromise the king's constitutional position, the PA news agency reported.
From Barron's ● Jul. 6, 2026
But just as I lifted my sandwich and opened my mouth, an announcement came over the PA: “Gallery officers, secure your galleries and report to the flats. All gallery officers.”
From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover
In Lancaster County, Pa., where the church-affiliation rate is higher than the national average, the Catholic prayer is met with appreciation by opposing teams and fans from local public schools.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026
The Johnstown, Pa., flood in 1889 killed more 2,000 and attracted attention around the world.
From Barron's ● Sep. 5, 2026
The actress, who hails from Allentown, Pa., also looked back on her childhood, admitting that she was “relentlessly loud and energetic and needed constant attention” when she was younger.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 2, 2026
The Earthquake Kids from Northridge Little League made it to the championship game of the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa., after the destructive 1994 Northridge Earthquake.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 23, 2026
I'd seen through Pa. He’s no Vonetta, putting on performances.
From "One Crazy Summer" by Rita Williams-Garcia
There's plentiful money if usa spends billions $ less p.a.
From New York Times ● Apr. 15, 2016
And for online degree programs delivered via a self-paced, competency-based model, the marginal cost including support and advising is likely under $1,000 p.a.
From Forbes ● Jun. 10, 2015
The US gdp/capita grew 1.4 pct p.a. in the 19th century with an average inflation of zero, inflation in war-time and deflation afterwards.
From Economist ● Jul. 26, 2012
Head of News & Media Relations local government association. a new team leader is required - to succeed the out…. £59,820 - £70,080 p.a. inc.
From The Guardian ● Mar. 21, 2010
On a recent Song trip, a flight attendant asked over the p.a. system, "Can I have your attention?"
From Time Magazine Archive
With these three factors, it’s possible to predict the likelihood of an accident, says sleep researcher Hans P.A.
From Slate ● Nov. 26, 2025
“Please stand and remove your hats for the singing of the national anthem,” the stadium announcer said over the P.A. system.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 6, 2025
Air purifiers were set next to large fans, creating industrial noise that made it necessary to use a P.A. system.
From Salon ● May 9, 2023
She later supported her sons’ band, helping to fund both a van and a P.A. system as they performed around the country with the Clean.
From New York Times ● Dec. 9, 2022
She stayed in the stall a long time, until she heard Dr. Schwab on the P.A. system informing everyone that all doors were now unlocked and all students should be in class or risk detention.
From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng
Another Kushner faux pas, this one perhaps reflecting his ignorance of European history: “There is no such thing in the world as forever enemies or forever allies.”
From Slate ● Sep. 8, 2026
Canada has form in Eurovision: appearing for Switzerland, Canadian then-starlet Celine Dion triumphed in 1988 singing "Ne partez pas sans moi", launching her career internationally.
From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026
It is a pas de deux of contrasts—roughness and polish, hardness and softness, danger and safety.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026
When a nameless secretary drops a sheaf of papers, Kornev’s response to help is instinctive, yet we cringe at the careless faux pas he commits in this unfeeling society.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 26, 2026
“Ne dis pas que j’ai des hemorröides! Je n’ai pas d’hemorröide,” Colin shouted, at once trying to continue the game and get Hassan on to a different topic.
From "An Abundance of Katherines" by John Green
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.
