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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

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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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

rep rep. Rep.

The Budget rep at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport wasn’t any help.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026

“A healthcare professional was with him when he fell,” the rep said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2026

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

From Salon ● Sep. 16, 2026

Six months into the strike, health visitor and Unite rep Joanne Penny said the union was helping workers financially, but families were under strain.

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026

He calls the bank, and they don't notify the building rep.

From "Counting by 7s" by Holly Goldberg Sloan

"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

U. S. Sen. Francis E., rep. in favor of wom. suff.,

From The History of Woman Suffrage, Volume IV by Ida Husted Harper

Rep. Tom Emmer, the House Majority Whip, was joining Republican holdouts to delay a House vote.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

This was first proposed by former Rep. Tim Penny, now co-chair of the CRFB, back in the 1980s.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 14, 2026

His fundraising supported a new field office for the state party in Nashua, where he’ll join gubernatorial candidate Cinde Warmington and Rep. Chris Pappas, who is vying against a Republican for the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2026

The House bill, sponsored by Rep. Pramila Jayapal, includes a similar line.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

"Representation by population"—shortly called "Rep. by Pop."—was the great cry of the ardent Liberal or "Grit" party, at whose head was George Brown, of the "Toronto Globe"—powerful, obstinate, Scotch, and Protestant, and with Yankee leanings.

From Canada and the States by E. W. (Edward William) Watkin

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