INS

n. a short name for the social media app Instagram.

n. A clipping of Instagram, used primarily in informal digital contexts.

“She posted the photos from her vacation on Ins yesterday.”

“The marketing team debated whether the campaign would perform better on Ins or through traditional email newsletters.”

Informal · Slang

n. Stands for Inertial Navigation System.

n. Abbreviation for Inertial Navigation System. A navigation aid that uses motion sensors and rotation sensors to calculate position without external references.

“The pilot checked the INS to make sure the plane was still on the right path.”

“Modern long-range aircraft typically utilize a redundant INS to maintain precise positioning when GPS signals are unavailable or jammed.”

Technical

n. Stands for Immigration and Naturalization Service.

n. Abbreviation for Immigration and Naturalization Service. A former U.S. government agency whose functions were transferred to the Department of Homeland Security in 2003.

“My grandfather had to visit the INS office when he first moved to New York.”

“Historical records from the INS provide valuable data for researchers studying migration patterns into the United States during the late twentieth century.”

American English · Archaic