Ad — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun abbreviation /ˈad/

Meaning & Definition of Ad

Ad (noun)

  1. advertisement
  2. advertising
  3. advantage

Ad (abbreviation)

  1. active duty
  2. after date
  3. airworthiness directive
  4. Alzheimer's disease
  5. anno Domini —often printed in small capitals and often punctuated

Ad (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a published statement informing the public of a matter of general interest

    "did you see the ads in the paper for cheap round-trip flights to Florida?"

    similar: advert (chiefly British), advertisement, announcement, bulletin, communiqué, notice, notification, posting, release
    related: broadside, brochure, circular, flyer, fly sheet, gazette (British), handbill, handout, bill, billboard, placard, playbill, poster, show bill, sign, broadcast, cablecast, newscast, telecast, advertising, billing, blurb, come-on, commercial, message, pitch, plugola, spot, word, communication, dispatch, report, annunciation, declaration, edict, proclamation, promulgation, pronouncement, pronunciamento, rescript, signification, ballyhoo, boost, buildup, campaign, plug, promo, promotion, propaganda, publicity

Related Entry: Ad hoc (adjective)

Ad hoc is a different word from Ad. The synonyms below are for ad hoc, not for ad.

  1. made or done without previous thought or preparation

    "upon learning that it was her birthday, we had an ad hoc celebration right there in the restaurant"

    similar: ad-lib, down and dirty, extemporaneous, extemporary, extempore, impromptu, improvisational, improvised, off-the-cuff, offhand, offhanded, snap, spur-of-the-moment, unconsidered, unplanned, unpremeditated, unprepared, unrehearsed, unstudied
    related: unscripted, automatic, impulsive, instinctive, involuntary, spontaneous, casual, cursive, informal, unauthorized, half-baked, half-cocked, ill-advised
    opposite: considered, planned, premeditated, premeditative, prepared, rehearsed
    near: deliberate, intended, intentional

Related Entry: Ad interim (adjective)

Ad interim is a different word from Ad. The synonyms below are for ad interim, not for ad.

  1. intended to last, continue, or serve for a limited time

    "will serve as the ad interim CEO until the merger of the two corporations is complete"

    similar: impermanent, interim, provisional, provisionary, provisory, short-term, temporary
    related: acting, alternate, proxy, substitute, expedient, improvised, makeshift, intermediary, intermediate, transitional, ephemeral, fleeting, fugitive, short-lived, transitory, conditional, contingent, limited, qualified, short-range, tentative, replaceable, terminable, terminate
    opposite: long-term, permanent
    near: final, fixed, set, settled, unconditional, unlimited, unqualified, extended, lasting, long-range, standing, dateless, deathless, endless, enduring, eternal, everlasting, immortal, perpetual, timeless, undying, unending

  2. serving in a position for the time being

    "an ad interim government until the new constitution goes into effect"

    similar: acting, interim, provisional, provisionary, provisory, temporary
    related: alternate, backup, jackleg, make-do, makeshift, proxy, stopgap, substitute
    opposite: long-term, permanent

Related Entry: Ad-lib (adjective)

Ad-lib is a different word from Ad. The synonyms below are for ad-lib, not for ad.

  1. made or done without previous thought or preparation

    "not bad for an ad-lib comedy routine"

    similar: ad hoc, down and dirty, extemporaneous, extemporary, extempore, impromptu, improvisational, improvised, off-the-cuff, offhand, offhanded, snap, spur-of-the-moment, unconsidered, unplanned, unpremeditated, unprepared, unrehearsed, unstudied
    related: unscripted, automatic, impulsive, instinctive, involuntary, spontaneous, casual, cursive, informal, unauthorized, half-baked, half-cocked, ill-advised
    opposite: considered, planned, premeditated, premeditative, prepared, rehearsed
    near: deliberate, intended, intentional

Related Entry: Ad-lib (noun)

Ad-lib is a different word from Ad. The synonyms below are for ad-lib, not for ad.

  1. something that is performed, made, or done without preparation

    "you would never suspect that that stirring speech was an ad-lib"

    similar: extemporization, impromptu, improv, improvisation
    related: concoction, contrivance, creation, innovation, invention, wrinkle
    near: bit, drill, routine

Related Entry: Ad-lib (verb)

Ad-lib is a different word from Ad. The synonyms below are for ad-lib, not for ad.

  1. to perform, make, or do without preparation

    "had to ad-lib constructing a piñata because she'd never actually seen it being done"

    similar: clap (together or up), extemporize, fake, improvise
    related: concoct, contrive, cook (up), devise, fabricate, hatch, invent, make up, manufacture, think (up), cobble (together or up), dash (off)
    near: arrange, lay, prepare, ready, consider, contemplate, ponder, study, exercise, practice, rehearse

Related Entry: Ad verbum (adverb)

Ad verbum is a different word from Ad. The synonyms below are for ad verbum, not for ad.

  1. in the same words

    "an ad verbum translation"

    "if the giver of the oath mangles the wording, should one repeat after him ad verbum?"

    similar: directly, exactly, verbatim, word for word
    related: accurately, precisely, identically, literally
    opposite: inexactly
    near: basically, essentially, virtually, carelessly, freely, imprecisely, inaccurately, loosely

Related Entry: Ad-libbed (verb)

Ad-libbed is a different word from Ad. The synonyms below are for ad-libbed, not for ad.

  1. to perform, make, or do without preparation

    "had to ad-lib constructing a piñata because she'd never actually seen it being done"

    similar: clapped (together or up), extemporized, faked, improvised
    related: concocted, contrived, cooked (up), devised, fabricated, hatched, invented, made up, manufactured, thought (up), cobbled (together or up), dashed (off)
    near: arranged, laid, prepared, readied, considered, contemplated, pondered, studied, exercised, practiced, rehearsed

Related Entry: Ad-libs (noun)

Ad-libs is a different word from Ad. The synonyms below are for ad-libs, not for ad.

  1. something that is performed, made, or done without preparation

    "you would never suspect that that stirring speech was an ad-lib"

    similar: extemporizations, impromptus, improvisations, improvs
    related: concoctions, contrivances, creations, innovations, inventions, wrinkles
    near: bits, drills, routines

Related Entry: Ad-libs (verb)

Ad-libs is a different word from Ad. The synonyms below are for ad-libs, not for ad.

  1. to perform, make, or do without preparation

    "had to ad-lib constructing a piñata because she'd never actually seen it being done"

    similar: claps (together or up), extemporizes, fakes, improvises
    related: concocts, contrives, cooks (up), devises, fabricates, hatches, invents, makes up, manufactures, thinks (up), cobbles (together or up), dashes (off)
    near: arranges, lays, prepares, readies, considers, contemplates, ponders, studies, exercises, practices, rehearses

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Ad

The most common words with a similar meaning to Ad:

Chiefly British: advert
advertisement, announcement, bulletin, communiqué, notice, notification, posting, release

Related Words for Ad

broadside, brochure, circular, flyer, fly sheet, gazette, handbill, handout, bill, billboard, placard, playbill, poster, show bill, sign, broadcast, cablecast, newscast, telecast, advertising, billing, blurb, come-on, commercial, message, pitch, plugola, spot, word, communication

Origin & Etymology of Ad

by shortening

First known use: 1799

Words & Phrases Containing Ad

ad-, -ad, ad blocker, ad eundem, ad feminam

Frequently Asked Questions about Ad

What does "Ad" mean?

"Ad" means advertisement. As an a noun and an abbreviation, it is defined as: advertisement.

What is another word for "Ad"?

Other words for "Ad" include advert, advertisement, announcement, bulletin, communiqué, notice, notification and posting. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Ad" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Ad"?

There are 59 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Ad". Common alternatives include advert, advertisement, announcement, bulletin, communiqué, notice, notification, posting and release.

How do you use "Ad" in a sentence?

Examples of "Ad" in a sentence: "did you see the ads in the paper for cheap round-trip flights to Florida?".

Is "Ad" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Ad" can be used as a noun and an abbreviation, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Ad"?

"Ad" is pronounced /ˈad/.

What is the origin of the word "Ad"?

"Ad" comes from by shortening. First known use: 1799.

What is another word for "Ad" meaning "a published statement informing the public of a matter of general interest"?

When "Ad" (noun) means a published statement informing the public of a matter of general interest, synonyms include advert, advertisement, announcement, bulletin, communiqué and notice.