Meaning & use
DOA
Last updated
Meanings
abbreviationmedical
Dead on arrival: already dead when brought to a hospital or found by emergency workers.
Grammar: Used after a noun or as a label: the patient was DOA.
Patterns
- be DOA
- pronounced DOA
The accident victim was DOA at the hospital.
The paramedics found him DOA.
She was pronounced DOA by the doctor.
abbreviationfigurativeinformal
Used figuratively for a plan or idea that is certain to fail from the start.
Grammar: Often used after 'be': the proposal is DOA.
Patterns
- be DOA
- the plan is DOA
The new policy was DOA in Congress.
Without funding, the project is DOA.
His proposal was DOA before the meeting even started.
Common combinations
- pronounced DOA
- The patient was pronounced DOA on arrival.
- DOA at the scene
- The driver was DOA at the scene.
- the bill is DOA
- The bill is DOA in the Senate.
Synonyms and how they differ
- dead on arrival
- The full phrase; DOA is the abbreviation used in writing and speech.
Practice
In a business context, what does 'the proposal is DOA' mean?
Choose one answer.
DOA stands for 'dead on arrival' and is used figuratively to mean something has failed from the start. The other options do not match the abbreviation.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “DOA”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.