# ANC

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/anc
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. political party

noun · CEFR B2

Stands for African National Congress. This is the main political party in South Africa that led the fight against apartheid.

For teachers: Abbreviation for African National Congress. The governing social-democratic political party in South Africa since the end of apartheid in 1994.

- Nelson Mandela was a famous leader of the ANC in South Africa.
- The ANC has maintained a parliamentary majority in South Africa since the first post-apartheid elections, though its dominance has faced increasing challenges in recent years.

### 2. blood test

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

Stands for Absolute Neutrophil Count. It is a measure of how many white blood cells you have to fight infections.

For teachers: Abbreviation for Absolute Neutrophil Count. A clinical measure of the number of neutrophil granulocytes in the blood, used to assess immune system health.

- The doctor checked the patient's ANC to see if they were at risk for infection.
- Following the chemotherapy session, the oncologist monitored the patient's ANC closely to determine if a dose reduction was necessary due to neutropenia.

### 3. noise cancellation

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

Stands for Active Noise Cancellation. This technology in headphones uses microphones to block out outside sounds.

For teachers: Abbreviation for Active Noise Cancellation. A method for reducing unwanted sound by the addition of a second sound specifically designed to cancel the first.

- These new headphones have great ANC, so I can't hear the airplane engine.
- The latest firmware update significantly improved the ANC performance, effectively isolating the listener from low-frequency ambient hums in office environments.

### 4. pregnancy care

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

Stands for Antenatal Care. This refers to the medical check-ups and care a woman receives while she is pregnant.

For teachers: Abbreviation for Antenatal Care. The systemic medical supervision and care provided to pregnant women to ensure the best health outcomes for mother and child.

- Regular ANC visits are important for a healthy pregnancy.
- The public health initiative aimed to increase the percentage of women accessing ANC within the first trimester of pregnancy.

## Examples

- The doctor ordered an ANC test to check for lupus.
- A positive ANC result suggests an autoimmune condition, so the specialist ordered further blood work.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.
