plural abs
: an abdominal muscle
usually used in plural

ab

2 of 6

abbreviation (1)

about
: the 11th month of the civil year or the 5th month of the ecclesiastical year in the Jewish calendar see Months of the Principal Calendars Table
: the one of the four ABO blood groups characterized by the presence of antigens designated by the letters A and B and by the absence of antibodies against these antigens

AB

5 of 6

abbreviation (2)

1
able seaman; able-bodied seaman
2
abort; abortion
3
airborne
4
airman basic
5
Alberta
6
[New Latin artium baccalaureus] bachelor of arts

ab-

6 of 6

prefix

: from : away : off
abaxial

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

Hebrew Ābh

Prefix

Middle English, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin ab-, abs-, a-, from ab, a — more at of

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1956, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

circa 1771, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1927, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ab was circa 1771

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ab.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ab. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

ab-

prefix
: from : away : departing from
abnormal
Etymology

Prefix

Latin ab- "from, away"

Medical Definition

: abdominal
usually used in plural
highly developed abs
ab exercises

ab

2 of 4 abbreviation
1
or AB abort; abortion
2
about
: the one of the four ABO blood groups characterized by the presence of antigens designated by the letters A and B and by the absence of antibodies against these antigens

AB

4 of 4 abbreviation
1
aid to blind
2
[Latin artium baccalaureus] bachelor of arts

More from Merriam-Webster on ab

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!