PDA

American  

[pee-dee-ay] / ˈpiˈdiˈeɪ /

abbreviation

1. Informal. public display of affection: an act or instance of kissing, holding hands, caressing, etc., outside of private or intimate settings.

   My partner and I try to avoid PDA at work-related parties.

2. personal digital assistant: a handheld computer, often using a pen or stylus, that provides organizational software, such as an appointment calendar, and often communications hardware.

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PDA British  

abbreviation

1. personal digital assistant

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PDA Scientific  

/ pē′dē-ā′ /

1. Short for personal digital assistant. A lightweight, handheld computer, typically employing a touch-sensitive screen rather than a keyboard, generally used for storing information such as addresses or schedules. Many PDAs include handwriting recognition software, some support voice recognition, and some have an internal cell phone and modem to link with other computers or networks.

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Usage

What does PDA mean? PDA is an abbreviation for public display of affection, as when a couple makes out in public. PDA can also stand for personal digital assistant, a kind of handheld computer … that smartphones made mostly obsolete. In medicine, PDA is short for patent ductus arteriosus, a heart defect affecting babies. How is PDA pronounced?[ pee-dee-ey ]What are some other forms of PDA?pdaPDOApdoa

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

PDA

The Alchemy appeared to reference their post-Super Bowl PDA, with the lyric "Where's the trophy? / He just comes running over to me".

From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026

In the writers’ room, they’d find a way to honor the viral concert embrace: with a nod for PDA of the Year.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026

Performance in aid of PDA is exactly Lauren Herstik’s vision for her upcoming fundraiser.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 16, 2025

The presidential drawdown authority, or PDA, as it’s known, has allowed the military to send billions of dollars worth of ammunition, air defense missile launchers, tanks, vehicles and other equipment to Ukraine.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 19, 2024

Then she reached over to stroke Dad’s cheek, a rare demonstration of PDA.

From "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman

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