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• rep
  rep

  noun

  a transversely corded fabric of wool, silk, rayon, or cotton.
• rep.
  rep.

  abbreviation

  (in prescriptions) let it be repeated.
• Rep.
  Rep.

  abbreviation

  Representative.

rep

¹ American  

[rep] / rɛp /

Or repp

noun

1. a transversely corded fabric of wool, silk, rayon, or cotton.

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rep ² American  

[rep] / rɛp /

noun

Informal.

1. a repertory theater.

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rep ³ American  

noun

Informal.

1. a shortened form of repetition.

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rep ⁴ American  

noun

Informal.

1. a representative, especially a sales representative.

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rep ⁵ American  

noun

Informal.

1. a shortened form of reputation.

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rep ⁶ American  

[rep] / rɛp /

noun

Nucleonics.

1. a unit proposed as a supplement to roentgen for expressing dosage of ionizing radiation: subsequently abandoned.

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rep. ⁷ American  

abbreviation

1. (in prescriptions) let it be repeated.

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rep. ⁸ American  

abbreviation

1. repair.

2. repeat.

3. report.

4. reported.

5. reporter.

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Rep. ⁹ American  

abbreviation

1. Representative.

2. Republic.

3. Republican.

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Rep. ¹ British  

abbreviation

1. Representative

2. Republican

3. Republic

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rep ² British  

/ rɛp /

noun

1. a silk, wool, rayon, or cotton fabric with a transversely corded surface

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rep ³ British  

/ rɛp /

noun

1. theatre short for repertory company

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rep ⁴ British  

/ rɛp /

noun

1. short for representative representative

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rep ⁵ British  

/ rɛp /

noun

1. informal short for reputation

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Usage

What does rep mean? Rep is most often used as a shortening of several common words, including repetition, representative, and reputation, as well as many others. When used to mean repetition, rep is most commonly used in exercise and weightlifting, as in six reps on the leg press. When used to mean representative, rep is often used in customer service and sales. It’s also used in US politics, in which a Representative is a member of the House of Representatives. When it’s used to mean reputation, rep is mostly used in very informal settings, often referring to someone’s favor with others in a similar group. Sometimes rep is more common than the full term. The context that rep is used in usually hints at which term the shortening represents. Example: Please contact a sales rep if you have any problems with your order.

Other Word Forms

• repped
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of rep¹

First recorded in 1855–60; from French reps, perhaps from English ribs; see rib ¹

Origin of rep²

By shortening

Origin of rep³

First recorded in 1855–60

Origin of rep⁴

By shortening

Origin of rep⁵

First recorded in 1670–80

Origin of rep⁶

First recorded in 1945–50; r(oentgen) e(quivalent) p(hysical)

Origin of rep.⁷

From the Latin word repetātur

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

rep rep. Rep.

A Southwest rep called me back almost instantly and was able to quickly clear up a seat-assignment issue for an upcoming flight.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

The Times has reached out to Tree Paine, Swift’s longtime rep, to confirm if Kaufman’s column was any sort of source material for the song, and will update this accordingly.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026

The other industry rep is a Ph.D. and former director of the United States Geological Survey.

From Salon ● Sep. 16, 2026

When she arrived, however, a holiday rep told her it was not.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

“Thank you for calling technical support. I’m tech rep number 338645. How may I help you this evening?”

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline

"I think it's really unfairly got a bad rep. And I think that's because in the news or on social media, people don't want to talk about good things."

From BBC ● Jan. 1, 2025

“We’re competing out here. I win a rep. I lose a rep. It’s all growing and learning. I’d rather lose some in practice than get to game day and do it.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 2, 2023

“I mean, I treat every rep out there, like a game rep. So if I do play, what is it Monday night, I’ll be ready to go.”

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 21, 2022

“I was working for Kenneth Cole as their Northeast rep. Billy was one of my accounts. When I left his store, I turned to my friend and said, ‘There’s something about that man.

From New York Times ● Jul. 8, 2021

H.R. rep. no 1292; 52d Cong., 1st sess.

From United States Government Publications, v. 8 Jan-Jun 1892 A Monthly Catalog by Compiled

So he may be qualified to weigh in on the Senate race between Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and former state Rep. James Talarico.

From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2026

Former Rep. Cori Bush raked in more cash from California donors than in-state supporters in her bid to unseat incumbent Rep. Wesley Bell in Missouri’s 1st Congressional District, the seat she had held previously.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 28, 2026

Rep. Gabe Evans, who is running for reelection in Colorado, described the distinction as “gangbangers, not grandmas.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026

Everyone from Ashton Kutcher to Rep. Eric Cantor, the House majority leader at the time, was recorded encouraging children to learn to write code.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026

Plato, Rep. i. pp. 338c, 343a; comp. also ii. p. 358b.

From Atheism in Pagan Antiquity by Ingeborg Andersen