Meaning & use
VD
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Meanings
abbreviationold-fashionedmedical
An old short way of writing venereal disease, meaning an infection passed from one person to another mainly during sex.
Grammar: Used like a noun: it can be a countable thing (a VD) or an uncountable idea (catch VD), and it is usually written without periods.
Patterns
- catch VD
- have VD
- a VD clinic
The pamphlet from the 1970s warns young people about VD.
He was too embarrassed to tell anyone he had caught VD.
Older textbooks still use VD where today's books say STI.
abbreviationbefore a nounold-fashionedmedical
Used in front of another word to show that something relates to these infections, as in a VD clinic or a VD test.
Grammar: Here it works like an adjective and cannot stand alone: say a VD clinic, not 'the clinic is VD'.
Patterns
- a VD clinic
- a VD test
- VD treatment
She was sent to a VD clinic for tests and advice.
The old hospital had a separate VD ward.
Common combinations
- catch VD
- In those days people whispered that he had caught VD.
- a VD clinic
- The city opened a free VD clinic for soldiers.
- VD test
- A VD test was required before the marriage license was issued.
- the spread of VD
- Better sex education helped slow the spread of VD.
Synonyms and how they differ
- STI
- This is the modern, neutral term and is the best choice in most writing today; VD is older and can sound harsh.
- STD
- Also common and more neutral than VD, though many health organizations now prefer STI.
Commonly confused: VD or V.D.?
VD vs V.D.
The same abbreviation written with periods; both forms are correct, but modern style usually drops the periods.
Practice
Which sentence uses VD in the most natural, historically accurate way?
Choose one answer.
VD is an old abbreviation for venereal disease and can be used before a noun such as test or clinic. The other options treat it as a verb or a noun for food or travel, which it never is.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “VD”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.