# FBI

/ˈɛfˈbiˈaɪ/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 1. US law enforcement agency

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

Stands for Federal Bureau of Investigation. This is the American government agency that handles national security and major crimes.

For teachers: Abbreviation for Federal Bureau of Investigation. The primary federal investigative service of the United States government, responsible for domestic intelligence and law enforcement.

- The FBI is investigating the bank robbery because it involved a federal crime.
- The FBI collaborated with local law enforcement to dismantle the international cybercrime ring after a two-year investigation.

Usage: Usually preceded by the definite article 'the'.

### 2. humorous fake title

noun · CEFR C1 · Humorous · Slang · Informal

A joke name used on T-shirts or hats that stands for 'Female Body Inspector'.

For teachers: A humorous or satirical initialism for 'Female Body Inspector', typically found on novelty apparel.

- He wore a hat that said FBI, but it stood for Female Body Inspector.
- The use of 'FBI' as a joke acronym on tourist merchandise is often considered dated or immature in modern social contexts.

Teaching tip: This sense is often seen on cheap souvenirs; learners should be aware it can be viewed as sexist or low-brow.

## Examples

- The FBI investigated the major bank robbery.
- After the cyberattack on the national power grid, the FBI took over the investigation from local police.
- Jurisdictional boundaries between the FBI and local law enforcement can become blurred during high-profile kidnapping cases that cross state lines.

---

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.