ieee

IPA/ˌaɪˌiːˌiːˈiː/
KK[ˌaɪtrˌɪpləˈi]IPA/ˌaɪtrˌɪpləˈiː/

ieee — noun

1. a worldwide organization for engineers and researchers in electrical engineering

1.nounB2
Definition

a worldwide organization for engineers and researchers in electrical engineering, electronics, and computing that creates industry standards and publishes scientific research

Example

Gabriel submitted his research paper to an IEEE conference on robotics.

submit a paper to an IEEE [conference/event]

The team followed the IEEE 802.11 standard when building the new wireless router.

follow the IEEE [standard number]

Common collocations
  • IEEE standard
  • IEEE conference
  • IEEE journal
  • IEEE member
  • IEEE paper
  • IEEE workshop
Synonyms
  • ACM

    a similar professional group but focused specifically on computing rather than electrical engineering and electronics

  • IET

    a UK-based professional body for engineering; smaller international reach than IEEE

Grammar Patterns

IEEE + noun (standard/conference/journal/member)

Usage Note

Pronounced as four separate letters: I-E-E-E. The acronym is used in writing much more often than the full name of the organization.

Common Mistakes

The I.E.E.E. published a new standard.
The IEEE published a new standard.
Modern English does not use periods in most acronyms.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

IEEE, ACM, IET, and ISO are all organizations that set professional standards, but their focus areas differ. IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) is the largest, covering electrical engineering, electronics, and computing — its Wi-Fi standards (802.11) are a familiar example. ACM (Association for Computing Machinery) focuses purely on computer science, with a strong emphasis on software and theory. IET (Institution of Engineering and Technology) is UK-focused and smaller in scope. ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is a global body that sets standards across all industries, not just engineering. A researcher might submit a paper to an IEEE conference on hardware but to an ACM conference on algorithms.

ACMIETISO ↗

Etymology

English (American)English (American)

IEEE was formed in 1963 when two older engineering societies — the American Institute of Electrical Engineers (AIEE, founded 1884) and the Institute of Radio Engineers (IRE, founded 1912) — merged. The new organization kept the IRE's focus on rapidly evolving electronics while maintaining the AIEE's strength in power engineering.