ACAB

What Does ACAB Mean in a Text?

The Quick Answer

ACAB means "All Cops Are B*stards."

More Observations...

The acronym ACAB is widely used by street protesters and graffiti artists with the meaning "All Cops Are B*stards" (or "All Coppers Are B*stards" in the UK). The use of ACAB is believed to have emerged during protests in England in the mid-twentieth century. It has since caught on worldwide and is used without translation in many languages, including German and Spanish. ACAB is sometimes written (and chanted) as "1312." In this case, each number represents the position of the corresponding letter in the alphabet:

1 = A.
3 = C.
1 = A.
2 = B.

Image for ACAB

When I write ACAB, I mean this:

ACAB is used throughout the world as an anti-police slogan.

Summary of Key Points

"All Cops Are B*stards" is, by far, the most common meaning for ACAB when it is used in a text. (Bear in mind that it could have another meaning if used in a different context.)

ACAB
Definition:	All Cops Are B*stards
Type:	Acronym
Guessability:	3: Guessable
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

An Academic Look at ACAB

ACAB is an acronym (i.e., an abbreviation spoken like a word). It is pronounced "eh-cab." Acronyms differ from initialism abbreviations, which are pronounced using their individual letters.