PM
UK[ˌpiː ˈem]US[ˌpiː ˈem]
abbreviation
The period from 12:00 noon to 11:59 at night.
abbreviation
Used after a number to indicate a time between noon and midnight.
Etymology
The abbreviation 'pm' is a direct borrowing from the Latin phrase "post meridiem," which translates literally to "after midday." It was adopted into English as a concise, standardized notation for indicating the afternoon and evening hours on the 12-hour clock. The logic is purely chronological, dividing the day into two clear halves: the period before noon (ante meridiem, or am) and the period after noon (post meridiem, or pm). This system provides a precise and universally understood method for distinguishing between morning and afternoon/evening times.
Analysis
This is an initialism formed from the Latin phrase "post meridiem."
Examples
The meeting is scheduled for 3:00 pm.
Please ensure all submissions are received by 11:59 pm tonight.
The store hours are 9 am to 8 pm.