What does the “V” in V-J Day stand for in the 1945 victory designation?

The “V” in V-J Day stands for “Victory over Japan.”

The designation describes the Allied victory over Japan at the end of World War II. It parallels V-E Day, or Victory in Europe Day, which marked Germany’s defeat earlier in 1945. The two abbreviations identify the war’s separate European and Pacific conclusions.

In the United States, V-J Day was commonly associated with August 14, 1945, when President Harry Truman announced that Japan had accepted the Allied surrender terms. In many other countries, celebrations were held on August 15 because the news arrived according to local time.

The term can also refer to September 2, the date of the formal signing aboard USS Missouri. That variation is why historical sources may give different V-J Day dates. The phrase itself, however, consistently means victory over Japan, not victory in Europe.