YMMV
initialism
your mileage may vary
What does YMMV mean?
YMMV stands for "your mileage may vary.” It functions as a shorthand disclaimer acknowledging that experiences, opinions, or results may differ from person to person. It is occasionally written out in full (your mileage may vary).
Examples of YMMV
ymmv obviously and i’ve never had especially sensitive skin but man. lmao
—X (formerly twitter), 20 Nov. 2025
YMMV, but "extreme" light therapy has helped me shift a little.
—YMMV is a way of feigning sympathy without meaning it.
—The advice game is the ultimate your-mileage-may-vary exercise—do you have a feeling for when someone is looking for (or needs) a gentle smack to return them to their senses, a bit of empathy, a dose of humor?
—
Where does YMMV come from?
"Your mileage may vary” was a common phrase in American automobile advertising during the 1970s and 1980s (car manufacturers were required to disclose estimated fuel efficiency ratings but needed to include disclaimers that actual performance would differ based on things such as driving conditions, or driver habits). The phrase became so ubiquitous in vehicle ads that it transitioned into general usage as an idiom, eventually being shortened to YMMV in the 1990s and 2000s in Internet use.
How is YMMV used?
YMMV typically appears alongside statements offering recommendations, product reviews, or personal opinions, particularly in online forums, social media posts, and text messages. It serves as a polite hedge that tempers advice with the acknowledgment that one person’s result may not be the same as another’s.
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