POC

Someone who is prototyping a product or idea may use POC to mean "proof of concept." You're most likely to encounter this acronym in the business world, referring to a pilot program or product meant to prove an idea's worth (and feasibility).

On occasion, you may see also POC used to mean "proof of concept" on social media and in forums, when users are discussing a POC product or trial. However, on these platforms, POC more typically stands for "people of color."

Businesspeople often use POC as shorthand for "point of contact." This acronym refers to the person you're supposed to talk to about a specific topic. For example, if your mngr assigns you to coordinate a partnership with another business, they might say that business's Executive Assistant is your primary POC.

Often, you'll be able to reach out to a POC via email or phone, provided by either the POC themselves or a third party. In some instances, however, you may end up meeting a POC IRL, to discuss an important topic F2F.

POC stands for "Person of color," or "People of color." It is commonly used in America to refer to individuals with skin tones that differ from white Caucasians.

The acronym is often used online and in text messages when describing the experience of a member of a minority group. It has grown in popularity in the 2010s as more discourse about racial issues has been exchanged on social media.

While it typically refers to African Americans, it is not limited to a single ethnic group. Some other groups it may refer to are Asian Americans, Latino Americans, Middle Eastern Americans, and Native Americans.