PDA

American  

[pee-dee-ey] / 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

By not making a PDA, Apple had the resources to make the iPod, then the iPhone.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 21, 2026

Parisian PDA has established Shailene Woodley and Lucas Bravo as the couple to watch.

From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2025

Concerns mostly focused on the "PDA awards" episode where Georgia was shown appearing to mislead Callum Jones about her feelings for other islanders.

From BBC • Feb. 29, 2024

Still, I had spent hours on TikTok in the last few weeks, dissecting the couple’s post-AFC-game PDA session from all angles.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 9, 2024

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

From "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman