# ISS

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

## Senses

### 1. space station

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

Stands for International Space Station. This is a large satellite where astronauts live and work in space.

For teachers: Abbreviation for International Space Station. A modular space station in low Earth orbit, serving as a microgravity research laboratory for international crews.

- The astronauts spent six months living on the ISS to conduct experiments.
- Visible from Earth with the naked eye, the ISS represents a collaborative triumph of international engineering and long-term orbital habitation.

Usage: Usually used with the definite article 'the'.

### 2. school punishment

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

Stands for in-school suspension. This is a punishment where a student must stay in a separate room at school instead of going to class.

For teachers: Abbreviation for in-school suspension. A disciplinary action where a student is removed from the regular classroom environment but remains on school grounds.

- He was sent to ISS for two days after he got into a fight.
- The administration decided that ISS was a more effective deterrent than sending the student home where they would be unsupervised.

Usage: Often used without an article in school contexts, similar to 'in detention'.

### 3. legal monitoring

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical · British English

Stands for intensive supervision and surveillance. This is a way for the police or courts to watch someone closely instead of putting them in prison.

For teachers: Abbreviation for intensive supervision and surveillance. A high-intensity community-based programme used as an alternative to custody for high-risk offenders.

- The judge placed the young offender on an ISS programme to help him stay out of trouble.
- The effectiveness of ISS relies on a combination of electronic tagging and intensive mentoring to reduce recidivism rates among youth.

## Examples

- The ISS orbits the Earth every ninety minutes.
- Astronauts on the ISS conduct experiments that help scientists understand how long-term space travel affects the human body.
- As a collaborative project between five space agencies, the ISS represents a significant achievement in international diplomacy and complex aerospace engineering.

---

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.