V a abbreviation

VA can mean Virginia, Veterans Affairs, or volt-ampere, among other things. The correct expansion comes from the setting. An address, a veterans’ benefits document, and an electrical specification use the same letters for different purposes.

Meaning and context

In a United States mailing address, VA is the postal abbreviation for Virginia. In a discussion of veterans’ services, VA commonly refers to the Department of Veterans Affairs. A power specification using VA can describe apparent power in volt-amperes.

Examples and usage

Read the neighboring labels before deciding. A city followed by VA and a ZIP Code points to a state. A discussion of an agency’s services points toward Veterans Affairs. An equipment label with voltage and power information calls for the electrical interpretation.

What to check

Do not use an acronym expansion as a substitute for reading an actual benefit notice or equipment manual. If you are writing for a broad audience, spell out the intended term on first mention. That prevents readers from choosing a familiar but unrelated meaning.

Explore more: Word meanings and writing guides