ACAB

What Does ACAB Mean?

ACAB means "All Cops Are B*stards."

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

Summary of Key Points

"All Cops Are B*stards" is the most common definition for ACAB on Snapchat, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.
ACAB
Definition:All Cops Are B*stards
Type:Acronym
Guessability:guessability level 3
3: Guessable
Typical Users:typical user
Adults and Teenagers

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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.

What Did We Say before Texting and Social Media?

The use of ACAB to mean "All Cops Are B*stards" long pre-dates the digital era.

Example of ACAB Used in a Text

ACAB

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See Also

BLM (black lives matter) COP (close of play, police officer) DLTBGYD (don't let the b*stards grind you down) FOPS (fake cops) GRAF (graffiti)