# PSA

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

## Senses

### 1. public message

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

Stands for Public Service Announcement. It is a short message on TV, radio, or the internet that gives the public important information about health or safety.

For teachers: Abbreviation for Public Service Announcement. A message disseminated by the media without charge, with the objective of raising awareness or changing public attitudes regarding a social issue.

- The government released a PSA to remind people to wash their hands during the flu season.
- Broadcasters are often required to allocate a certain percentage of airtime to PSAs that address critical community health concerns.

Usage: Commonly used as a countable noun in North American media contexts.

### 2. medical test

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

Stands for Prostate-Specific Antigen. It is a protein measured in a blood test to check for problems with a man's prostate.

For teachers: Abbreviation for Prostate-Specific Antigen. A protein produced by cells of the prostate gland; the PSA test measures the level of PSA in a man's blood to screen for cancer or other conditions.

- The doctor recommended a PSA test as part of his annual physical exam.
- Elevated PSA levels in the bloodstream may indicate inflammation or malignancy, though the test is sometimes criticized for producing false positives.

Usage: Usually functions as an uncountable noun when referring to the protein itself, but countable when referring to the test.

### 3. business contract

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

Stands for Purchase and Sale Agreement. This is a legal document that lists the terms of a deal when buying or selling something big, like a house.

For teachers: Abbreviation for Purchase and Sale Agreement. A binding legal contract between a buyer and seller that outlines the terms and conditions for the transfer of assets or real estate.

- Both parties signed the PSA after agreeing on the final price of the property.
- The closing of the merger was delayed while attorneys finalized the specific indemnification clauses within the PSA.

### 4. medical condition

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

Stands for Psoriatic Arthritis. This is a type of painful joint swelling that happens to some people who have the skin condition psoriasis.

For teachers: Abbreviation for Psoriatic Arthritis. A chronic inflammatory arthritis that occurs in some individuals with the autoimmune skin disease psoriasis.

- New treatments have helped many patients manage the symptoms of PSA more effectively.
- Early diagnosis of PSA is crucial to prevent permanent joint damage and maintain the patient's quality of life.

## Examples

- The government released a PSA about the importance of washing your hands.
- Local news stations aired a PSA to warn residents about the upcoming heatwave and where to find cooling centers.
- While early PSAs often relied on fear-based messaging to discourage dangerous habits, modern campaigns tend to focus on empowering the audience with actionable steps and positive reinforcement.

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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.