What does AAA stand for? In everyday American life it usually stands for the American Automobile Association, the motor club known for roadside help, travel maps and trip planning. People say it as "triple A" rather than reading out three separate letters.
The same three letters also label a battery size, the top grade on a bond rating, the highest level of minor league baseball and a set of New Deal laws from the 1930s. The setting nearly always tells you which one is meant: a stalled car points to the club, a remote control points to the battery.
Quick facts
Stands for
American Automobile Association (most common)How to say it
"Triple A"Type
InitialismStarted
1902, as a federation of local motor clubsOther meanings
Battery size, top credit rating, minor league level, Agricultural Adjustment Act, anti-aircraft artilleryNot to be confused with
AA, a smaller battery size and other uses
What does AAA stand for most of the time?
When someone says "call AAA" after a flat tire, they mean the American Automobile Association. Each letter maps to one word:
- A: American
- A: Automobile
- A: Association
The group formed in 1902, when local car clubs joined together to push for better roads at a time when cars were still new. Today it works as a federation of regional clubs. Members can call for towing, jump starts, lockout help and fuel delivery, and many offices also handle travel planning and maps. Because the regional clubs set their own services, what a membership includes can vary by region.
Other things AAA stands for
Outside the car world, the letters show up in several fields. This table ranks them by how often people run into them.
| Field | AAA means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Batteries | A small cylinder battery size | "The remote takes two AAA batteries." |
| Finance | The highest bond or credit rating | "The city kept its AAA rating." |
| Baseball | Triple A, the top minor league level | "He was called up from Triple A." |
| History | Agricultural Adjustment Act | "The AAA paid farmers to grow less." |
| Military | Anti-aircraft artillery | "The convoy faced heavy AAA fire." |
| Medicine | Abdominal aortic aneurysm | "The scan checked for AAA." |
| Video games | A big budget game from a large studio | "It is a AAA title." |
On a news page about government, AAA may mean the farm law or a rating agency decision. On a medical chart it is the aneurysm. In a store aisle, it is the battery.
AAA in government and history
Students in a US history class meet AAA as the Agricultural Adjustment Act, passed in 1933 as part of the New Deal. It paid farmers to plant fewer acres so that crop prices could rise during the Great Depression. The Supreme Court struck down the first version in 1936, and Congress passed a new Agricultural Adjustment Act in 1938. On a test, "AAA" next to "New Deal" or "farm prices" means this law, not the car club.
Military writers use AAA for anti-aircraft artillery, the guns that fire at aircraft from the ground. For more terms from Washington and the armed forces, browse the government and military acronyms section.
How to say and write AAA
Almost everyone says "triple A." Reading it as "A A A" is understood but sounds stiff. Because the spoken form starts with a consonant sound, writers split on the article: "a AAA battery" follows the sound of "triple," while "an AAA battery" follows the sound of the letter A. Both appear in print. Pick one and stay with it.
The letters go in full capitals, without dots. In baseball writing, "Triple-A" is often spelled out. For the batteries, the plural is just "AAA batteries"; you do not add an s to the letters.
AAA in everyday sentences
- "My car would not start, so I called AAA for a jump."
- "Grab a pack of AAA batteries for the smoke detector."
- "The state still holds a AAA credit rating."
- "She played two seasons in Triple A before her first big league game."
- "Our textbook chapter covers the AAA and other New Deal programs."
On a hotel booking page: "AAA rate available." This means a member discount for people who belong to the auto club. You may be asked to show a card at check in.
AAA vs AA and other close calls
AA batteries are a bit longer and thicker than AAA batteries, and the two are not interchangeable. AA can also stand for Alcoholics Anonymous or an associate of arts degree, so read the context. In finance, AA is one step below AAA. In baseball, Double A sits one level below Triple A.
Another frequent mix up is AARP, the membership group for people 50 and older, which some people confuse with AAA because both offer member discounts. Federal agencies that deal with roads and drivers have their own letters, such as the state DMV.
Questions people ask
What does AAA stand for in cars?
It stands for American Automobile Association, a federation of motor clubs. Members call it for roadside help such as towing, jump starts and lockouts.
How do you pronounce AAA?
Say "triple A." Reading the three letters one by one is understood, but it is rare in speech.
What does AAA mean on batteries?
It is a size label, not an abbreviation for words. AAA batteries are thinner and shorter than AA batteries, and you should use whichever size the device calls for.
What does a AAA credit rating mean?
It is the highest grade a rating agency gives a borrower, such as a country, city or company. It signals that the agency sees very low risk of missed payments.
What was the AAA in the New Deal?
It was the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1933, which paid farmers to reduce crops so prices would rise. A revised version followed in 1938.