i.e.

1 of 3

abbreviation (1)

that is

They're Hoosiers, i.e., they're from Indiana.

made of sodium chloride (i.e., salt)

Note: Do not confuse i.e. with e.g., which means "for example" ("various herbs, e.g., basil, thyme, and cilantro").

IE

2 of 3

abbreviation (2)

industrial engineer

-ie

3 of 3

noun suffix

variants or less commonly -y

1

: little one : dear little one

birdie

sonny

2

a

: one belonging to : one having to do with

townie

b

: one who is

preemie

3

: one of (such) a kind or quality

cutie

toughie

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between i.e. and e.g.?

I.e. and e.g. are both abbreviations of Latin phrases. I.e. stands for id est, which means "that is." It introduces a rewording or a clarification, as in "The cough may last for a short period of time—i.e., three to five days." E.g. stands for exempli gratia, which means "for example." It introduces one or more examples that illustrate something stated, as in "Submit a sample of academic writing—e.g., a dissertation chapter."

Is i.e. capital or lowercase?

Capitalize i.e. only when it is at the beginning of a sentence.

How do you use i.e.?

Use i.e. where the phrases "that is" and "in other words" are appropriate. It is always followed by a comma. For example, "They live in The Big Apple, i.e., New York City."

Word History

Etymology

Abbreviation (1)

Latin id est

Noun suffix

Middle English

Video

i.e. vs. e.g.

Often used, often confused. Here's some guidance and insight.

Kids Definition

-ie

noun suffix

variants also -y

ē

plural -ies

1

: little one

sonny

bootie

2

: one belonging to : one having to do with

cabbie

3

: one having such a quality

smarty

toughie

Etymology

Noun suffix

Middle English -ie "little one"