# zed

/ˈzɛd/ (US) · /zˈɛd/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/zed
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

the name for the letter Z in British English and many other countries. It is the same as the American 'zee'.

For teachers: the standard name for the final letter of the alphabet in British, Canadian, and Australian English. Used to distinguish the character 'Z' from other letters during spelling or recitation.

## Examples

- In London, the last letter of the alphabet is called zed.
- When spelling his name over the phone, the travel agent clarified that the last letter was a zed, not a zee.
- The phonetic difference between the British zed and the American zee serves as a common linguistic marker for identifying a speaker's regional educational background.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The American alphabet ends with zed." but "The American alphabet ends with zee." — Learners often forget that 'zed' is specific to British and Commonwealth English, while 'zee' is used in American English.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used in the phrase 'from A to zed' to mean including everything.

---

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.