pa

1 of 6

noun (1)

ˈpä  ˈpȯ 

: father

Pa

2 of 6

abbreviation (1)

1

pascal

2

Pennsylvania

Pa

3 of 6

symbol

protactinium

PA

4 of 6

noun (2)

(ˌ)pē-ˈā 

: physician assistant

PA

5 of 6

noun (3)

(ˌ)pē-ˈā 

plural PAs

: public-address system

He perks up when the name of his town comes over the PA.

—Colson Whitehead

After they'd mustered at their tables, before saying grace, a staff sergeant read the manifest over the PA.

—Stewart O'Nan

Then came the announcement over the news, over the radio and over the PAs at schools: The school board had canceled school until further notice …

—Daniel Thigpen

PA

6 of 6

abbreviation (2)

1

Pennsylvania

2

chiefly British per annum

3

personal assistant

4

power amplifier

5

power of attorney

6

press agent

7

professional association

8

public address

… retail store services featuring … public address (PA) systems …

—US Fed News

9

purchasing agent

Synonyms of pa

Noun (1)

• dad
• father
• daddy
• papa

Examples of pa in a Sentence

Noun (1)

Pa, can I go out?

I cherish my memories of the times that I went fishing with my pa.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

As some of this work has encountered delays and other unique challenges, Sherwin-Williams has worked diligently with the PA DEP throughout the process and remains committed to completing these improvements and operating the facility responsibly. — Meghan Schiller, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026

As the bartender quieted whatever terrible hair-metal mixtape had been playing over the house PA, and the lights glowed red on the stage, Ryan was trying to create the illusion of a behind-the-curtain, big-stage, rock star entrance. — Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2026

That came after an assassination attempt in Butler, PA, in July that year. — Tom Tapp, Deadline, 4 Aug. 2026

Expect Valencia to see nearly full-time PA in a C/DH rotation with Dillon Dingler. — John Laghezza, New York Times, 31 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

short for papa

First Known Use

Noun (1)

circa 1629, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1970, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1932, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing pa

• ma-and-pa

Rhymes for pa

• aah
• ah
• ahh
• aw
• awe
• bah
• blah
• bra
• caw
• claw
• craw
• daw

Kids Definition

pa

noun

ˈpä  ˈpȯ 

: father entry 1 sense 1a

Medical Definition

Pa

1 of 3 symbol

protactinium

PA

2 of 3 noun

ˌpē-ˈā 

: physician assistant

PA

3 of 3 abbreviation

pernicious anemia