summary

1 of 2

adjective

sum·​ma·​ry ˈsə-mə-rē 

 also  ˈsəm-rē,

 or  -ˌmer-ē

1

: comprehensive

especially : covering the main points succinctly

2

a

: done without delay or formality : quickly executed

a summary dismissal

b

: of, relating to, or using a summary proceeding

a summary trial

summarily

(ˌ)sə-ˈmer-ə-lē 

adverb

summary

2 of 2

noun

sum·​ma·​ry ˈsə-mə-rē 

 also  ˈsəm-rē

plural summaries

: an abstract, abridgment, or compendium especially of a preceding discourse

Synonyms

Adjective

• aphoristic
• apothegmatic
• brief
• capsule
• compact
• compendious
• concise
• crisp
• curt
• elliptical
• elliptic
• epigrammatic
• laconic
• monosyllabic
• pithy
• sententious
• succinct
• telegraphic
• terse
• thumbnail

Noun

• abstract
• breviary
• brief
• capsule
• conspectus
• digest
• encapsulation
• epitome
• inventory
• outline
• précis
• recap
• recapitulation
• résumé
• resume
• resumé
• roundup
• rundown
• run-through
• sum
• summa
• summarization
• summing-up
• sum-up
• synopsis
• wrap-up

Choose the Right Synonym for summary

concise, terse, succinct, laconic, summary, pithy, compendious mean very brief in statement or expression.

concise suggests the removal of all that is superfluous or elaborative.

a concise description

terse implies pointed conciseness.

a terse reply

succinct implies the greatest possible compression.

a succinct letter of resignation

laconic implies brevity to the point of seeming rude, indifferent, or mysterious.

an aloof and laconic stranger

summary suggests the statement of main points with no elaboration or explanation.

a summary listing of the year's main events

pithy adds to succinct or terse the implication of richness of meaning or substance.

a comedy sharpened by pithy one-liners

compendious applies to what is at once full in scope and brief and concise in treatment.

a compendious dictionary

Examples of summary in a Sentence

Adjective

a summary account of the accident

obviously a one-volume encyclopedia can offer only a very summary account of the American Civil War

Noun

He concluded the report with a brief summary.

They gave a summary of their progress in building the bridge.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Organized labor wanted to institute procedural reforms to ensure that officers were given opportunities to correct bad behavior before being let go—no more summary firings. —Marc J. Dunkelman, TIME, 27 Feb. 2025

Sure enough, the summary destruction of that lonely Russian tank became fodder for the Phoenix drone group’s social media team. —David Axe, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025

Noun

Agencies will still be allowed to offer documents and services in languages other than English, according to a White House summary of the order seen by The Wall Street Journal. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025

The military released only a summary of the report and military officials outlined its findings. —Mohammad Jahjouh, Wafaa Shurafa, Natalie Melzer and Tia Goldenberg The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 28 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Medieval Latin summarius, from Latin summa sum

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1509, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing summary

• in summary
• summary judgment
• summary proceeding

Rhymes for summary

• mummery
• summery

Kids Definition

summary

1 of 2 adjective

sum·​ma·​ry ˈsəm-ə-rē 

1

: expressing or covering the main points briefly : concise

a summary account

2

: done without delay or formality : quickly carried out

a summary dismissal

summarily

(ˌ)sə-ˈmer-ə-lē

adverb

summary

2 of 2 noun

plural summaries

: a short statement of the main points (as in a book or report)

Legal Definition

summary

adjective

sum·​ma·​ry ˈsə-mə-rē 

: done immediately, concisely, and without usual formal procedures

especially : used in or done by summary proceeding compare plenary

summarily

sə-ˈmer-ə-lē 

adverb