In the World War II term “V-J Day,” what do the letters “V-J” stand for?

In the World War II term “V-J Day,” the letters “V-J” stand for Victory over Japan. The phrase follows the Allied naming pattern used for V-E Day, or Victory in Europe Day, which marked Nazi Germany’s defeat in 1945.

V-J Day refers to Japan’s defeat and surrender at the end of World War II. The term can describe the public announcement of Japan’s surrender on 14 August 1945 in the Americas and on 15 August in Japan because of time-zone differences. It can also refer to 2 September 1945, when Japan formally signed the surrender document.

The wording is sometimes confused with “Victory in the Pacific,” another name used for the commemoration. In the United Kingdom, 15 August is the official V-J Day, while the United States officially commemorates the end of the war on 2 September. The “V” means victory, and the “J” identifies Japan as the defeated Axis power.