| Ao5; avg5 | Average of 5: Final result drops the best and worst attempt and takes the average of the remaining 3 attempts; format used for most WCA events |
| Mo3 | Mean of 3: Final result is an average of all three attempts; format used for 6x6x6 Cube, 7x7x7 Cube and FMC |
| Bo3 / Bo5 | Best of X: Final result is the best of the attempts; format used for blindfolded events |
| DNF | Did Not Finish |
| Plus 2 | A penalty that adds two seconds to a competitor's time, which most commonly occurs when the puzzle is off by one turn at the end of the solve |
| TPS | Turns Per Second: A measurement of turning speed |
| CN | Color Neutral: Ability to start a solve with any side/colour, common amongst top solvers (alternatively, many solvers are "white/yellow neutral", meaning they can start with the white or yellow face) |
| Inspection | The 15-second period after the puzzle cover is lifted and before the competitor starts the timer, used by competitors to plan the solve |
| BPA | Best Possible Average: A competitor’s average of 5 result after 4 solves if they get their best time on their 5th solve |
| WPA | Worst Possible Average: A competitor’s average of 5 result after 4 solves if they get their worst time on their 5th solve |
| PR | Personal Record: A competitor’s all-time best official result in an event |
| NR | National Record |
| NAR | North American Record (also marked as “CR” for Continental Record) |
| SAR | South American Record (also marked as “CR” for Continental Record) |
| ER | European Record (also marked as “CR” for Continental Record) |
| AFR | African Record (also marked as “CR” for Continental Record) |
| ASR | Asian Record (also marked as “CR” for Continental Record) |
| OCR | Oceanic Record (also marked as “CR” for Continental Record) |
| WR | World Record |
| FWR | Female World Record |
| CFOP | Cross-F2L-OLL-PLL: The most common method for solving 3x3 |
| Cross | The first step of a CFOP solve |
| F2L | First 2 Layers: Solving 4 different “slots” or "pairs" to finish the first 2 layers of a 3x3 |
| X-Cross | Solving the cross and the first F2L pair together, commonly used by advanced solvers to speed up the first 2 steps of CFOP |
| LL | Last Layer: The last step(s) of a CFOP solve, after F2L |
| OLL | Orient Last Layer: Second-last step of a CFOP solve, to solve the face of all last layer pieces |
| PLL | Permute Last Layer: Last step of a CFOP solve, to solve the positions of all last layer pieces |
| AUF | Adjust U Face: Adjusting the last layer right after the last algorithm to solve the puzzle |
| Roux | A method for solving 3x3; common in one-handed solving due to move optimization |
| ZBLL | Zborowski-Bruchem Last Layer: An advanced method for solving the 3x3 that requires the knowledge of hundreds of algorithms, allowing the solver to use only one algorithm to solve the last layer of the puzzle |
| COLL | Corners + Orient Last Layer: A variant of OLL which can be used when all edges are oriented to ensure an easy PLL |
| 2GLL | 2-Gen Last Layer: A set of last layer algorithms that can be done using only 2 faces (usually R and U), allowing them to be done extremely quickly. |
| EO | Edge Orientation: Refers to whether edges are flipped correctly relative to the solved state |
| Parity | A unique case that appears in big cubes (4x4 - 7x7), where pieces are in positions that seem impossible based on how a 3x3 cube works - an extra algorhitim is required to solve these cases |
| OPA | OLL Parity Avoidance: An advanced method for solving 4x4 that avoids OLL parity |
| Redux / Reduction | A common freestyle method used for solving 4x4 - 7x7 |
| Yau | A common structured method used for solving 4x4 - 7x7 |
| ZBLS | Zborowski-Bruchem Last Slot: An advanced algorithm set containing hundreds of algorithms that solves the last F2L pair while orienting all edges |
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