Definition: "NOAA," a nautical term, stands for "National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration." It's an acronym that means National Oceanographic Agency. Here's its definition: The NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) is an independent United States government agency that conducts research, provides science advisory services, and assists in the development of technology for the application of oceanography and atmospheric science in a wide variety of fields. The acronym stands for "National Oceanographic Agency."