Word
USS
Phoneticsuss
/ˌjuˌɛˈsɛs/
Definition
n. Stands for United States Ship. You see this before the names of ships that belong to the U.S. Navy.
n. Abbreviation for United States Ship. This prefix is legally required for all commissioned vessels in the United States Navy and is used in both official documentation and general reference.
Examples
“The USS Enterprise is a famous aircraft carrier.”
“The crew boarded the USS Gerald R. Ford for its first official deployment across the Atlantic.”
“Historical records indicate that the prefix USS was not formally standardized until 1907, when President Theodore Roosevelt issued an executive order establishing a consistent naming convention for all naval vessels.”
Examples
simple
“The USS Enterprise is a famous aircraft carrier.”
contextual
“The crew boarded the USS Gerald R. Ford for its first official deployment across the Atlantic.”
complex
“Historical records indicate that the prefix USS was not formally standardized until 1907, when President Theodore Roosevelt issued an executive order establishing a consistent naming convention for all naval vessels.”
Usage
Always placed immediately before the name of the vessel without a definite article.
Teaching tip
Learners should note that while we say 'the ship', we do not usually say 'the USS Enterprise' in formal writing; 'USS Enterprise' acts as the full proper name.
Real-World Examples
“The US President has brushed off reports of dire conditions and a mental health crisis aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.” “Donald Trump has downplayed the impact on American sailors who have spent nearly nine months at sea on the USS Abraham Lincoln.” “Another aircraft carrier, the USS George Washington, left port in Da Nang, Vietnam, last week and is expected to replace the Lincoln, one of two aircraft carriers currently deployed in the Middle East.” Domains
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/uss