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PM

What Does PM Mean in a Text?

The Quick Answer

In relation to time, "PM" means "Post Meridiem," a Latin term meaning "after midday." "PM" can also mean "Private Message," "Prime Minister," and "Professional Male."

More Details

Post Meridiem

When used to indicate the time of day, "pm" refers to the 12-hour period from noon (12:00 pm) to just before midnight (11:59 pm), distinguishing it from "am" ("ante meridiem"), which means "before midday" and covers the time from midnight to just before noon. The 12-hour clock system, which uses "am" and "pm" to divide the day, has roots that trace back to ancient civilizations. Both the Egyptians and the Romans divided their days into 12-hour cycles, inspired by the natural cycles of day and night. The adoption of "ante meridiem" and "post meridiem" as terms is credited to the Roman Empire, which had a significant influence on how time was recorded and structured in Western society.

This 12-hour system became more widely standardized during the medieval period in Europe and was solidified with the spread of mechanical clocks in the Renaissance era, which often used the 12-hour format. This format has remained standard in many English-speaking countries, while many other parts of the world prefer the 24-hour clock (e.g., 0700 (7 am), 1500 (3 pm), 2300 (11 pm)) to avoid ambiguity.

Both "am" and "pm" can also be written with periods (full stops) and in uppercase, i.e., "a.m.", "p.m.", "AM", "A.M.", "PM", "P.M.".

Private Message

In text or online chat, a "private message" is often abbreviated as PM. This refers to a message sent directly to another user in a private conversation, rather than in a public or group chat. A PM is typically visible only to the sender and the recipient(s), making it a way to communicate one-on-one or in smaller, more private groups within a larger chat platform or social media environment. Some platforms or users may also use the abbreviation DM (Direct Message), which is functionally the same as a PM.

Prime Minister

PM is widely used in both text and speech to mean "Prime Minister." This is the title given to the head of government in parliamentary systems. The PM is typically the leader of the majority party in the legislature and is responsible for overseeing the executive branch, setting policy agendas, and representing the country domestically and internationally. Key countries with Prime Ministers include the United Kingdom (UK), Canada, Australia, India, and New Zealand (NZ).

Professional Male

On online dating sites, users might use PM to describe themselves (or their ideal partner) as a "Professional Male", to indicate career stability, certain lifestyle traits, or ambition.

Image for PM

meaning of PM

PM can also mean "Prime Minister."

Summary of Key Points

PM
Definition:Post Meridiem
Type:Abbreviation
Guessability:guessability level 2
2: Quite easy to guess
Typical Users:typical user

Adults and Teenagers

PM
Definition:Private Message
Type:Abbreviation
Guessability:guessability level 2
2: Quite easy to guess
Typical Users:typical user

Adults and Teenagers

PM
Definition:Prime Minister
Type:Abbreviation
Guessability:guessability level 3
3: Guessable
Typical Users:typical user

Adults

PM
Definition:Professional Male
Type:Abbreviation
Guessability:guessability level 3
3: Guessable
Typical Users:typical user

Adults

An Academic Look at PM

image for academic look, showing a teacher with a mortar board

PM is classified as an initialism abbreviation, as it is pronounced one letter at a time. Initialisms are different to acronyms, which are abbreviations spoken as words. Other examples of initialisms are:

  • AI - "Artificial Intelligence."
  • EW - "Electronic Warfare."

Example of PM Used in a Text

PM
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This page is maintained by the Cyber Definitions Editorial Team.

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