EP

1 of 2

abbreviation or noun

ˈē-ˈpē 

plural EPs

: a music recording that is typically longer than a single (see single entry 2 sense 1c(2)) and shorter than a full-length album

… a five-song EP by the South Korean boy band that clocks in under 15 minutes …

—Joe Coscarelli

Today, EPs look just like full-length CDs, except for the number of tracks. … Most EPs contain 30 minutes or so of music …

—Roger Catlin

There are plenty of reasons to make an EP—whether it's to … find a proper home for B-sides or serve as an introduction to an up-and-coming group before their official debut.

—Bonnie Stiernberg

… released a new extended play (EP) record.

—Mike Sunnucks

called also extended play

EP

2 of 2

abbreviation

1

estimated position

2

European plan

Examples of EP in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Abbreviation or noun

For 50 years, EP has been a player behind the scenes, handling payroll, production finance, residuals, compliance paperwork and payments while providing expertise and tools to help productions make the most of incentives around the world. —Carole Horst, Variety, 16 June 2026

Brief but dense, that EP signaled exciting new ground for the two singular artists. —Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 16 June 2026

North's first solo music festival performance came after the release of her debut EP, N0rth4Evr, on May 1. —Georgia Slater, PEOPLE, 15 June 2026

Both purchases and plays on platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music dictate where a full-length or EP settles on the 25-space ranking. —Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Abbreviation or noun

extended play

First Known Use

Abbreviation Or Noun

1989, in the meaning defined above