From NVM and LMK to OMG and ILY, there are a ton of abbreviations that can be found in the English language. Some of them are trendy and popular, like YOLO and LMFAO, whereas others are not as well known — like SS. That said, what does SS stand for, and how is the abbreviation used? We’ll tell you.

In this post, we’re exploring SS to uncover the abbreviation’s many meanings and more. So if you’ve ever wondered about SS — keep reading. Here’s our complete guide on SS, including definition, origin, and how to use it in a sentence.

What Is the Definition of SS?

Our word of the day is a common abbreviation that is short for a number of different terms, including:

Social Security
Steamship
Same Size
Short Stop
Secret Service
Song of Solomon
Sunday School
Scilicet
Saints
Strong Safety
Sections
Split Squad
Selfie Sunday
Short Stacked
Missing (or miss)

The abbreviation SS is also widely recognized as the initials of one of the most powerful and feared military security forces and military units during World War II. SS stands for “Schutzstaffel,” which translates to “Protective Echelon” or “Protection Squad” in German.

What Is the Origin of Schutzstaffel (SS)?

Formed on the orders of Adolf Hitler in April 1925, the SS was a Nazi party paramilitary organization that was initially small in size but grew under the leadership of Heinrich Himmler, who was appointed commander in 1929. This group included the Gestapo (Nazi police force) and Sicherheitsdienst groups.

Himmler was able to convince Hitler that loyal troops would be able to provide a counterbalance to the undisciplined Storm Troopers (Sturmabteilung, SA), but to achieve this goal, more organization members were needed. A decade later, the commander had a total of over 50,000 within the SS formations.

To be enlisted in the infamous SS, potential members had to meet specific criteria of the purported “perfect German Aryan race” as defined by Hitler:

Must be between 25 and 35 years old
Must measure at least 1m74 (or 5’9)
Must have an elongated skull
Must be blond
Must have blue eyes
Must be free of any physical defects

Distinguished by their extremely tight black uniform, the typical SS soldier was harsh and even harder against himself in order to find the strength needed to accomplish any orders — regardless of how inhuman they may be.

What Are the Synonyms and Antonyms of SS?

Now that you’re up to speed on the meaning behind SS, it’s time to take a look at a few synonyms and antonyms. In short, synonyms are words that have the same meaning as another, whereas antonyms are words that have the opposite meaning.

Synonyms of SS include:

Disability insurance
Allied
Retirement income
Payments
The Allies
Auschwitz
Pictures
Benedict Arnold
Armistice Day
Soviet Union
The Axis
Economic assistance
Photogenic
Welfare program
Protective Shield
Confederacies
Endorsements
The Battle of Britain
Welfare
The Blitz
Antebellum
Government assistance
USSS

Antonyms of SS include:

Poor health
Peace
Tea party
Riskiness
Self-governance
Democracy
Found

How Can You Use SS in a Sentence?

From #SelfieSunday to missing, our word of the day, “SS,” can be used in a number of different ways. Practicing using the term will help you feel comfortable using it in conversation. Quiz yourself to see how many sentences you can come up with properly using SS, or review our sentence examples listed below:

“We learned about the SS Nazi group in history class today.”

“I have to bring my driver’s license and SS card to the DMV if I want to complete my auto registration.”

“I play the SS position in my baseball league. In other words, I am the Short Stop.”

“An elite corps of combat troops formed under the direction of Heinrich Himmler Reichsführer-SS (Reich Leader of the SS) in order to protect Hitler.”

“Did you know that the SS started with a relatively small guard unit known as the Saal-Schutz?”

“The president’s SS refers to his secret security or special police department that protects him from harm.”

“SS is the abbreviation for steamship, which is essentially just a nautical vessel designation.”

“The SS-Leibstandarte remained as an independent regiment that functioned as Hitler’s personal bodyguard unit.”

“The Waffen-SS was created during World War II under the direction of Hitler and his horrible henchmen.”

“Thousands of Jews died in concentration camps at the hands of the SS during the Holocaust.”

“Can you please resend that snap? I forgot to take an SS — aka screenshot.”

“The SS of Nazi Germany believed the Aryan race was superior.”

“Did you know that SS can stand for scilicet, which is commonly used in legal documents?”

“When does your SS check come in the mail? If it doesn’t come soon, we can go to the social security office to pick it up.”

“The missing poster that was pinned onto the bulletin board said SS in big red letters, which I believe is an abbreviation for missing.”

Conclusion

So, what does our word of the day mean, you ask?

The term SS stands for a number of things, but it’s most commonly used to refer to a unit of Nazis that Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany created. While not as popular, the acronym can also stand for “Selfie Sunday,” “Screen Shot,” “Sunday School,” and “Social Security.”

Now that you understand what the acronym SS means, you should feel comfortable using it as a part of your everyday language. Whether used in regards to your social security benefit or when referencing the horrendous Nazi group that was formed during World War II, SS is an acceptable word to use.

Sources:

SS (abbreviation) definition and synonyms | Macmillan Dictionary

the ss garrison of the auschwitz | LEKCJA

The role of the SA and the SS – The Holocaust Explained: Designed for schools | The Holocaust Explained

Kevin Miller is a growth marketer with an extensive background in Search Engine Optimization, paid acquisition and email marketing. He is also an online editor and writer based out of Los Angeles, CA. He studied at Georgetown University, worked at Google and became infatuated with English Grammar and for years has been diving into the language, demystifying the do's and don'ts for all who share the same passion! He can be found online here.