gaf

GAF, often written in all caps, is an acronym that can refer to several unrelated topics across different fields.

In medicine and psychology, the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale was used to rate a person’s overall level of functioning across psychological, social, and occupational domains. It appeared in the DSM-IV and DSM-IV-TR as a shorthand for general functioning. In DSM-5, the GAF was removed and replaced by WHODAS 2.0, with concerns raised about reliability and clinical utility limiting its continued use in formal diagnostic contexts.

In industry, GAF Corporation was an American company originally formed as General Aniline & Film. It evolved from dye and chemical production into photographic film and coatings before concentrating on other products. The roofing and building materials segment became GAF Materials Corporation, a major North American manufacturer of roofing products. Today, GAF Materials is commonly associated with the GAF brand of asphalt shingles and related roofing systems and operates as part of a larger corporate group under Standard Industries.

In popular culture and online slang, GAF can stand for “give a f—” (or a similar expression), used to indicate indifference or a lack of concern. This usage is informal and context-dependent, and its appropriateness varies by audience and setting.

Overall, gaf/GAF serves as a multi-meaning term whose interpretation depends on domain, including medicine, industry, and casual language.