“Approx” is a short way of writing “approximately,” which means “about,” “around,” or “roughly,” not exact.

Quick Scoop

What “approx” means

  • “Approx” is an abbreviation you mostly see in writing, often with a dot: “approx.”
  • It stands for “approximate” or “approximately,” meaning something is close to a number, time, or amount but not precise.
  • Everyday alternatives include “about,” “around,” “roughly,” or “in the region of.”

Example:

The meeting will last approx 2 hours.
This means it might be a bit shorter or longer than 2 hours, and that’s okay.

How you’ll see it used

Common places you’ll see “approx”:

  • Times: “Arrive at approx 7 pm.”
  • Quantities: “There are approx 70 people here.”
  • Measurements: “The distance is approx 5 km.”

Writers often use “approx” in informal or space‑limited contexts (notes, tables, labels), and “approximately” in more formal writing.

Tiny nuance: when to use which

  • For casual notes, chats, or quick labels, “approx” is fine: “Ship time: approx 3 days.”
  • For formal reports or academic work, “approximately” usually looks more professional: “The results were approximately 75% accurate.”

Both signal that the value is an estimate , not an exact figure.

TL;DR:
“Approx” = “approximately” = “about/around,” used when a number or time is close but not exact.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.