What does OEM realy mean !!!

I ask this question because when i look at honda part suppliers on the internet they list several brake pads as honda OEM. i suspect that honda does not have so many choices. So what does OEM really mean?

I forgot what the acronym for "OEM" stands for but OEM parts are basically the original parts for that car. if you bought the car brand new and stock. They would come with all OEM parts.

My question was really meant to address the question of :when a supplier says a part is OEM does that mean its exactly the same as original equipement? If this is so, how can there be seven different brake pads which are OEM?

OEM = Original Equipment Manufacturer (or Manufacture)

That said, I see OEM used all the time to mean exactly the opposite! As in "Is it a Honda part, or OEM?"

NO aftermarket part is exactly the same as OEM, although it can be very close. OEM parts come from HONDA or other maker. With aftermarket (non honda) parts they may refer to OEM to let you know it fits, fuctions, looks like OEM but RARELY is the same quality. Not including well made performance parts