Modern Internet slang is developing rapidly, and even people who constantly monitor trends risk missing something. However, some expressions and acronyms, such as MIA, came to the Internet from a different field.
MIA is a term used by the military to describe missing people. It was initially used negatively, but today the acronym has become quite common, and people use it often to explain the sudden absence of another person.
When does MIA arrive, and what does it mean?
The MIA has a rather sad origin. The acronym stands for Missing in Action. The first documented use of the term was in 1808. It was applied to people who went missing in action, but the military was unsure if they had been killed.
Later, the term was used not only by the military but in various other agencies, for example, by the police or when searching for lost people in the woods. Later the term became part of Internet slang.
So the “official” version of the MIA is a person considered missing, and no one knows where they are or what is happening to them. As long as they search for him, he is in the MIA status.
How is MIA used in Internet slang?
Among Internet users, the term MIA has a similar meaning. It is applied to people who have been out of touch for a long time. For example, if they are late and don’t answer the phone, or if they don’t get online for days without telling anyone. Some examples of its use I can mention are:
- He has taken a vacation and will be MIA for a while.
- I’m supposed to have a date, but my boyfriend has been MIA for half an hour.
- I was MIA because my smartphone ran out of juice.
- How it pisses me off when my girlfriend is MIA for a few days.
So in today’s culture, MYA is no longer used for tragic and adverse occasions. Now it’s just shorthand for those who take a “digital break.” The exciting thing is that MIA can be found in both informal and formal speeches.
Can you use MIA formally?
MIA is also used in official communication. Here the acronym is used in its original sense. The term can be heard mainly in the news or various political speeches.
Since it is an official term for missing people, you are free to use this abbreviation in any conversation where it would be appropriate. However, I would still not recommend using it in official speech as slang.
