What does ATM stand for? In the vast majority of cases, the answer is Automated Teller Machine, the cash machine outside a bank, inside a grocery store or at a gas station. You put in a debit card, type your PIN and can take out cash, check your balance or move money between accounts without waiting for a person at a teller window.
The same three letters have a second life in chats, where "atm" means "at the moment," and a third in science class, where atm is a unit of pressure. Where the letters show up, a bank lobby, a chat bubble or a homework sheet, settles the question.
Quick facts
Stands for
Automated Teller Machine (also called automatic teller machine)In texts
At the momentIn science
atm, standard atmosphere, a unit of pressureType
Initialism, said A T MPlural
ATMsArticle
"an ATM," because A is a vowel soundNot to be confused with
PIN, the secret code you type at the machine
ATM stands for three different things
Below, the most common sense sits at the top and the rarest at the bottom.
| Field | ATM stands for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Banking | Automated Teller Machine | "I'll grab cash at the ATM on the corner." |
| Texting and chat | At the moment | "Busy atm, call you later." |
| Chemistry and physics | Atmosphere (standard atmosphere) | "The gas is held at 2 atm." |
| Older networking | Asynchronous Transfer Mode | A data method once used in phone and network lines |
If money or a card is involved, it is the machine. If the letters are lowercase in a quick message, it is almost surely "at the moment." A number in front of lowercase atm in a lab problem points to pressure.
What does ATM stand for in banking?
A teller is the bank worker who hands out cash and takes deposits at the counter. An automated teller machine does part of that job on its own, at any hour. Common things you can do at one:
- Withdraw cash from a checking or savings account.
- Check your account balance.
- Deposit cash or checks, at many bank owned machines.
- Transfer money between your own accounts.
- Get a mini statement of recent activity.
On a machine screen: "This ATM is not owned by your bank. A fee may apply. Continue?" The message means the machine belongs to another bank or company, so you may be charged for using it.
What does ATM stand for in text?
In a chat, "atm" means "at the moment" or "right now." It is usually typed in lowercase and can sit anywhere in the sentence.
- "Can't talk atm, in a meeting."
- "Atm I'm leaning toward the blue one."
- "No plans atm, why?"
It is casual. In a work email to someone you do not know well, write "right now" or "at the moment" in full.
atm in science class
In chemistry and physics, atm is the symbol for the standard atmosphere, a pressure unit based on the average air pressure at sea level. One atm equals 101,325 pascals. It is written in lowercase, with no period, and always comes after a number: 1 atm, 0.5 atm.
Do not mix it with the cash machine on a test. A word problem that says "a balloon at 1.2 atm" is about pressure, not banking.
Is "ATM machine" wrong?
Strictly speaking, "ATM machine" repeats itself, because the M already means machine. The same thing happens with "PIN number," where the N already means number. Both phrases are very common in speech, and almost everyone understands them. In careful writing, "ATM" alone is enough.
Other small writing points:
- Three capital letters, no dots: ATM.
- Choose "an ATM," since the opening sound, "ay," calls for an.
- The plural is ATMs, with no apostrophe.
If you want more on how these short forms are built, see what is an acronym.
ATM safety habits
- Cover the keypad with your other hand while you type your PIN.
- Look at the card slot. If anything looks loose, bulky or out of place, use another machine.
- Pick a well lit machine, and put your cash away before you walk off.
- Keep your receipt or check the transaction in your bank account later.
- Report a lost or kept card to your bank right away.
Machines also connect to other everyday letters. Your bank account may receive ACH transfers, and the store terminal where you pay with the same card is a POS system. For more letters you meet on a normal day, try our famous acronyms roundup.
Questions people ask
What is the ATM full form?
The usual ATM full form is Automated Teller Machine. Some people say automatic teller machine, and both names mean the same cash machine.
What does atm mean in a text message?
It means "at the moment." A friend who writes "busy atm" is busy right now and will likely reply later.
Is ATM an acronym or an initialism?
Technically an initialism, since nobody pronounces it "atum." Plenty of people still label it an ATM acronym, and that loose usage causes no confusion.
What is the ATM abbreviation in chemistry?
In chemistry, atm is short for atmosphere, a unit of pressure equal to 101,325 pascals. It is written in lowercase after a number, such as 3 atm.
Can you deposit money at an ATM?
At many bank owned machines, yes, you can deposit cash or checks. Not every machine takes deposits, so look for a deposit option on the screen or ask your bank.