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PDF

American  

abbreviation

Digital Technology.
  1. portable document format:

    1. a file format that makes it possible to display text and graphics in the same fixed layout on any computer screen.

    2. a document or file in this format.


PDF British  

abbreviation

  1. portable document format: a format in which documents may be viewed

"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 PDF

First recorded in 1990–95

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:

She then sent the City Council and Lock Dawson a five-page PDF defending her social media use.

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 11, 2026

Back in the mountain camp, PDF commander Da Wa agrees the conscripts are a problem.

From BBC Jun. 9, 2026

I've sent a PDF of my book to my friends and asked them to distribute it.

From Barron's May 21, 2026

After, you can download a PDF that summarizes symptoms alongside your cycle trends and body temperature variation to share with a doctor.

From The Wall Street Journal Nov. 9, 2025

Two seconds later, I printed out the PDF he sent me, which listed a whole bunch of different math words.

From "Auggie & Me" by R. J. Palacio

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