shorthand

noun

short·​hand ˈshȯrt-ˌhand 

1

: a method of writing rapidly by substituting characters, abbreviations, or symbols for letters, sounds, words, or phrases : stenography

2

: something likened to shorthand especially in providing rapid or abbreviated communication or representation

stereotype and cliché serve a purpose as a form of shorthand

—Stephanie Ericsson

headline shorthand

shorthand adjective

Examples of shorthand in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The liberal international order is shorthand for the international institutions and treaty arrangements that Washington took the lead in creating during the first decade after World War II, including the United Nations and NATO. —Alexander Cooley, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025

Outfitting Robert Redford as Jay Gatsby and Diane Keaton as Annie Hall, Lauren's influence wove itself stealthily into entertainment and the culture, his name eventually becoming shorthand for a certain aesthetic. —Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 4 Jan. 2025

During his administration, his progressive wing of Baptists would begin to give way to an ascendant conservative movement — in today’s shorthand, the evangelical vote — that played a key role in his 1980 defeat. —Bill Marsh, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024

The variance between the two is sizeable, necessitating the need to distinguish one from the other and combat the colloquial shorthand traditionally used to conjure one with the other. —Dr. Marcus Collins, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1636, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing shorthand

• in shorthand
• shorthand reporter
• shorthand typist
• take shorthand

Kids Definition

shorthand

noun

short·​hand ˈshȯrt-ˌhand 

1

: a method of rapid writing by using symbols for sounds, words, or phrases

2

: a short or quick way of showing or saying something

shorthand adjective