Meaning & use
TN
Last updated
Meaning
abbreviationAmerican
The two-letter code for the U.S. state of Tennessee, used in addresses and official documents.
Grammar: Written in capital letters without periods; read aloud as two separate letters, 'T' then 'N'.
Patterns
- TN 12345
- Nashville, TN
- the TN state line
Please send the package to 456 Elm Street, Nashville, TN 37201.
On the form, write your city and then TN for the state.
The license plate showed a TN county code.
Common combinations
- TN 12345
- Her new address is 789 Oak Avenue, Memphis, TN 38103.
- Nashville, TN
- The conference will be held in Nashville, TN, next June.
- the TN state line
- We crossed the TN state line just before sunset.
- TN driver's license
- He renewed his TN driver's license online.
Synonyms and how they differ
- Tennessee
- Use the full name in formal writing or when the context is clear; TN is mainly for addresses and forms.
Commonly confused: TN or Tenn.?
TN vs Tenn.
Tenn. is a traditional abbreviation for Tennessee, but TN is the modern two-letter postal code preferred by the U.S. Postal Service.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'TN' correctly?
Choose one answer.
TN stands alone as a state code, so 'in TN' is correct. The other options add unnecessary words like 'state' or 'the' that do not fit the abbreviation's use.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “TN”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.