# USS

/ˌjuˌɛˈsɛs/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 1. U.S. Navy ship prefix

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal · Technical

Stands for United States Ship. You see this before the names of ships that belong to the U.S. Navy.

For teachers: 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.

- The USS Enterprise is one of the most famous ships in history.
- The USS Gerald R. Ford represents the lead ship of her class, featuring several technological advancements over previous nuclear-powered carriers.

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.

## 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.

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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.