IMO

American  

Also imo, or IMHO

abbreviation

1. in my (honest/humble) opinion.

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IMO ¹ British  

abbreviation

1. text messaging in my opinion

2. International Maritime Organization

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Imo ² British  

/ ˈiːməʊ /

noun

1. a state of SE Nigeria. Capital: Owerri. Pop:3 934 899 (2006). Area: 5100 sq km (1969 sq miles)

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Etymology

Origin of IMO

First recorded in 1980–85; from its use in digital communications

Example Sentences

The IMO has information that some ships have started to sail but that it still needed to verify this as "some ships turn off their identification systems in order not to be targeted", he said.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

Even so, she has ditched Max in favour of IMO, a less popular US-made app that has encryption.

From Barron's • Mar. 23, 2026

At the IMO, the Cook Islands pressed Iran to confirm reported evidence that "there is a nascent ships registration system being set up for approved vessels to make safe passage through the Strait" of Hormuz.

From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026

Last year abandoned merchant navy crews around the world were owed a total of $25.8m, according to data from two UN agencies, the IMO, and the International Labour Organization.

From BBC • Feb. 8, 2026

The IMO is a proponent of a technology to apply encrypted "digital signatures" to electronic bills of lading.

From Crime and Corruption by Vaknin, Samuel