p

1 of 5

noun

ˈpē 

plural p's or ps ˈpēz 

often capitalized, often attributive

1

a

: the 16th letter of the English alphabet

b

: a graphic representation of this letter

c

: a speech counterpart of orthographic p

2

: a graphic device for reproducing the letter p

3

: one designated p especially as the 16th in order or class

4

[abbreviation for pass]

a

: a grade rating a student's work as passing

b

: one graded or rated with a P

5

: something shaped like the letter P

p

2 of 5

abbreviation (1)

1

page; pages

2

parental generation

3

part

4

participle

5

past

6

pater

7

pawn

8

pence; penny

9

per

10

peseta

11

peso

12

petite

13

piano

14

pico-

15

pint

16

pipe

17

pitch

18

pole

19

port

20

power

21

pro

22

progressive

23

proton

24

purl

P

3 of 5

abbreviation (2)

1

pressure

2

[French poids] weight

P

4 of 5

symbol

phosphorus

p-

5 of 5

abbreviation (3)

para-

Examples of p in a Sentence

Noun

a word that starts with a p

a word that starts with p

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The test works by measuring proteins beta-amyloid and p-tau217, which are believed to be hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease. —Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 21 May 2025

The simple blood test was found to be up to 96 percent accurate in identifying elevated levels of beta amyloid and up to 97 percent accurate in identifying p-tau217, the report stated. —Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 21 May 2025

Puck drop from Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena is set for 7:30 p..m. —Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 17 May 2025

Yes, take the p*** for sure—that's what the show is about—but there must be a cleverer, more nuanced, less cheap way? —Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing p

• mind one's p's and q's
• p's and q's
• p-type
• watch one's p's and q's

Kids Definition

p

noun

ˈpē

often capitalized

: the 16th letter of the English alphabet

Medical Definition

P

1 of 3 abbreviation

1

parental

2

part

3

percentile

4

pharmacopoeia

5

pint

6

pole

7

population

8

position

9

positive

10

posterior

11

pressure

12

pulse

13

pupil

P

2 of 3 symbol

phosphorus

p-

3 of 3 abbreviation

para-

p-dichlorobenzene