What does FBI stand for? The three letters name the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the chief investigative agency of the United States government. Its special agents look into federal crimes and threats to national security, from kidnapping and bank robbery to terrorism and computer hacking.
The FBI belongs to the Department of Justice and keeps its main building in the nation's capital, with field offices in major cities and smaller offices across the country. It began in 1908 under a shorter name and has carried its current title since 1935.
Quick facts
Stands for
Federal Bureau of InvestigationType
InitialismHow to say it
"eff bee eye"Part of
The US Department of JusticeStarted
1908, as the Bureau of InvestigationMotto
Fidelity, Bravery, IntegrityNot to be confused with
CIA, NSA, local police
Breaking down the name
| Initial | Stands for | What it signals |
|---|---|---|
| F | Federal | It works for the national government, not a city or state |
| B | Bureau | An office within a larger department |
| I | Investigation | Its main job is gathering facts and evidence |
Being a bureau means it lives under a bigger roof, the Department of Justice, where the Attorney General oversees the FBI director. When the FBI finishes an investigation, federal prosecutors in that department decide whether to bring charges.
What does FBI stand for in its daily work?
The bureau's priorities cover a wide range of cases:
- Terrorism within the United States and threats against Americans.
- Counterintelligence, meaning efforts to stop foreign spying.
- Cybercrime, such as ransomware attacks and large data thefts.
- Public corruption by officials at any level of government.
- Civil rights violations, including hate crimes.
- Organized and violent crime, including gangs and crimes against children.
- White collar crime, such as major fraud schemes.
The FBI also runs national services that local police rely on, like fingerprint records and crime statistics.
From Bureau of Investigation to FBI
The agency was created in 1908 as a small force of investigators for the Justice Department. It was called the Bureau of Investigation, and later went through a couple of name changes before becoming the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1935. The word "Federal" made it clear that the bureau worked for the whole nation.
A well known detail: the FBI motto, Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity, matches the three letters. Those words were picked to fit letters that already existed, which makes the motto a backronym style slogan, not the origin of the name.
FBI vs CIA and other agencies
| Agency | Spelled out | Typical cases |
|---|---|---|
| FBI | Federal Bureau of Investigation | Crimes under US law and security threats at home |
| CIA | Central Intelligence Agency | Foreign intelligence gathered abroad, no arrest powers |
| NSA | National Security Agency | Intercepting and protecting communications |
| DEA | Drug Enforcement Administration | Federal drug laws |
| NCIS | Naval Criminal Investigative Service | Crimes involving the Navy and Marine Corps |
Local police and county sheriffs handle most everyday crime. The FBI usually steps in when a case crosses state lines, involves federal law or is too large for one community. Dozens more agency initials, from the Pentagon to the post office, have a home of their own: see the full government and military list.
How people use FBI in speech and writing
Say it as three letters, "eff bee eye." Write it with capitals and no periods. Because it begins with the sound "eff," use "an": "an FBI agent," "an FBI field office." News reports often say "the bureau" on second mention.
A news headline: "FBI asks public for tips in bank robbery case." Agents are investigating a federal crime and want anyone with information to come forward, usually through a tip line or website.
You may also see the warning screen at the start of some home videos, which tells viewers that copying a film without permission is a federal crime the FBI can investigate.
Example sentences
- "She studied accounting and later became an FBI special agent."
- "The local police asked the FBI for help once the suspect crossed into another state."
- "Background checks for the job include an FBI fingerprint check."
- "The FBI field office downtown is hiring analysts."
- "Online, people joke about an imaginary FBI agent watching through their webcam."
That last line is a popular internet joke, not a real program.
Questions people ask
Who does the FBI report to?
Its director answers to the Attorney General at the Justice Department. Before taking office, a new director needs a presidential nomination and a Senate vote.
Is the FBI the same as the CIA?
No. The FBI investigates crimes and threats mainly inside the United States, while the CIA collects intelligence overseas and does not make arrests.
How long does an FBI director serve?
By law the term is up to 10 years. A director can leave earlier or be removed by the president.
Is FBI an acronym?
Strictly, the label is initialism; nobody tries to pronounce "fbi" like a word. In everyday talk, though, plenty of people use the word acronym for it.
What does the FBI motto stand for?
The motto is Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity. It was chosen to match the letters of the name that already existed.