PDA Meaning, Definition, and History

PDA is an acronym some people use when on the internet, but if you’re not familiar with the meaning of PDA, you might not understand what someone is talking about.

The most commonly used definition of PDA is public display of affection, but there are a few other meanings to consider based on the context of the abbreviation.

In this article, we’ll cover the different PDA definitions, share the history of those meanings, and show you some examples of how to use PDA in a sentence.

PDA Definition

When you see PDA in writing or hear someone talk about a PDA, it’s likely they mean public display of affection. Public displays of affection are kissing, hugging, and any other affectionate interactions between two or more people while they are in public where other people can see.

Public displays of affection sometimes make people uncomfortable, which can be a personal or cultural thing. Certain cultures frown and discourage PDAs.

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What Does PDA Mean?

While the acronym PDA usually means public display of affection, there are three additional popular meanings of PDA.

If you’re reading a medical document about an adult or child with autism, PDA could mean the Pathological Demand Avoidance profile. The PDA profile is an autistic profile for adults and children who have an extreme characteristic for avoiding everyday expectations and demands.

Another medical term which PDA could stand for is Patent Ductus Arteriosus, which is a heart defect that affects babies.

You might see PDA in an article discussing the technological advancement of smartphones. If so, PDA could stand for Personal Digital Assistant, which is like the predecessor of the modern-day smartphone.

The History of the Meaning of PDA

In the 1990s, the most common meaning for PDA was the personal digital assistant because they first launched in the early 90s. A Palm Pilot was one of the most popular PDAs you could buy.

A PDA was a device used for storing, processing, and organizing personal information, such as appointments, addresses, calculations, and to-do lists.

Since the invention of smartphones, PDAs have been in decline, and now, very few people still use them. Smartphones combined all the functions of a PDA with a phone and added a bunch more functions.

Because of the disappearance of PDAs from our lives, if you see the abbreviation PDA in writing today, it’s more likely to refer to public displays of affection.

Examples of How to Use PDA Acronym

Here are some examples of how to use PDA in a sentence:

• “I told him we can’t kiss in public because I don’t like PDAs,” she said.

• Was the death of the PDA the day they released the first iPhone?

• Kissing is my favorite PDA. I think it’s so romantic to do it in a restaurant.

While the primary meaning of PDA has changed over time, it’s remained a popular internet acronym used in writing and messaging. Remember to consider the context when you’re trying to figure out the correct meaning of PDA.