o. k

Preserved but no longer current.

Meaning · English

A matter to be O. K. (OLL KORRECT, i.e., all correct), must be on the "square," and perfectly in order. This is an Americanism, and is derived from the initials O. K., said to have been marked on a document by an official to signify that all was right and proper.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

một vấn đề phải được giải quyết hoàn toàn đúng đắn

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)

Where it’s used: Origin British & Irish English
Sources & notes

Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.

Common questions

What does “o. k” mean?

A matter to be O. K. (OLL KORRECT, i.e., all correct), must be on the "square," and perfectly in order. This is an Americanism, and is derived from the initials O. K., said to have been marked on a document by an official to signify that all was right and proper.

Is “o. k” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.