What does DC stand for? In most American news and addresses, DC stands for the District of Columbia, the federal district that holds the nation's capital, Washington. That is why the city is written "Washington, DC" or "Washington, D.C."
The same two letters have other common jobs. On a battery or a power adapter, DC means direct current. On a comic book cover, it comes from Detective Comics. In a warehouse job post, it usually means distribution center. Clues in the sentence around it usually settle which one is meant.
Quick facts
Main meaning
District of ColumbiaOther meanings
Direct current, Detective Comics, distribution centerType
Initialism, said D CPostal code
DC, no periodsWriting style
Washington, D.C. or Washington, DCNot to be confused with
AC (alternating current)
What does DC stand for in Washington DC?
In Washington DC, the letters mean District of Columbia. The district was created by Congress as the seat of the federal government, separate from any state, and Washington is the city inside it. Today the city and the district cover the same ground, so people use the names as one.
- Washington honors George Washington, the first president.
- Columbia was an old poetic name for the United States, drawn from the name of Christopher Columbus.
- District means it is a federal area, not a state.
Because it is not a state, DC has no senators and a delegate in the House who cannot vote on final passage of bills. That status is a regular subject of public debate.
Washington DC abbreviation: DC or D.C.?
| Form | Where to use it | Example |
|---|---|---|
| DC | Mail, forms, shipping labels | Washington, DC 20001 |
| D.C. | News articles and many style guides | She moved to Washington, D.C. |
| Washington | When the meaning is clear | Talks in Washington ended late. |
The Postal Service treats DC like a state code, so it is two capitals with no periods. News style keeps the periods in running text. The abbreviation for Washington DC in a list of states is simply DC. See how the other codes work on the state abbreviations page.
DC in electricity: direct current
In science and electronics, DC stands for direct current, electricity that flows in one direction only. Batteries, solar panels and phone chargers on the output side all supply DC. The power in a wall outlet is AC, alternating current, which switches direction many times a second.
Power adapter label: "Input: 120V AC. Output: 5V DC." The adapter takes alternating current from the wall and turns it into the direct current your device uses.
What does DC stand for in DC Comics?
The comic book publisher's name comes from Detective Comics, one of its early and best known titles. So the full name, read literally, is Detective Comics Comics, a doubled word that fans enjoy pointing out. The publisher's films and shows are often called the DC Universe. There is more on our DC Comics page.
What does DC stand for at work and in other fields?
| Field | Stands for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Warehouses and shipping | Distribution center | "Night shift openings at the DC" |
| Retail | Discontinued | "DC item, no restock" |
| Hospitals | Discharge or discontinue | "DC the IV at noon" |
| Health care titles | Doctor of Chiropractic | "Jordan Lee, D.C." |
| Sheet music | Da capo, Italian for from the top | "D.C. al fine" |
| Online games | Disconnected | "Sorry, I dc'd" |
A job post that says "DC associate" almost always means someone who picks, packs or loads goods at a distribution center.
Tips for reading DC correctly
- After Washington or before a ZIP code: District of Columbia.
- Next to volts, batteries or wiring: direct current.
- With superheroes, comics or films: the publisher.
- In a shipping or logistics job: distribution center.
More two-letter puzzles like this one are on the famous acronyms list.
Questions people ask
Is Washington DC a state?
No. It is a federal district, not a state, and not part of any state. It has its own local government and a postal code, DC.
What does the DC stand for in Washington DC?
It stands for District of Columbia. Washington is the city, and the District of Columbia is the federal district it fills.
Do you write D.C. with periods?
Use periods in news writing and formal text: Washington, D.C. Leave them out on envelopes and forms: DC.
What is the difference between AC and DC?
DC, direct current, flows one way, as from a battery. AC, alternating current, changes direction back and forth, as in household outlets.
What does DC stand for in comics?
The initials point back to Detective Comics, one of the publisher's first big series, and the company later adopted them as its own name.