Use K.O. for the knockout result in sports or for a figurative overwhelming defeat, and avoid using it for unrelated meanings.
Use K.O. for the knockout result in sports or for a figurative overwhelming defeat, and avoid using it for unrelated meanings.
Writing the abbreviation without periods, as “KO”, is common, but the standard form is “K.O.”.
From the phrase “knock out”, shortened to the initials K and O and first recorded in boxing reports of the early 1900s.
What does K.O. stand for?
It stands for “knock out”, the term used for a fight‑ending knockout.
How is K.O. pronounced?
It is pronounced as the letters K and O, /ˌkeɪ ˈoʊ/.
When should I use K.O. in a sentence?
Use it to describe a knockout result in combat sports or a figurative overwhelming defeat.
Is K.O. used only in boxing?
While it originated in boxing, it is also common in mixed martial arts, kickboxing and other combat sports.
Can K.O. be written without periods?
The standard form includes periods; writing it as “KO” is considered informal and may be seen as incorrect.
What is the difference between K.O. and TKO?
K.O. means a knockout where the opponent is unconscious, whereas TKO (technical knockout) is declared when a referee stops the fight for safety.