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
Stephanie Ericssonheadline shorthand
shorthand
adjective
Examples of shorthand in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In a career that spanned more than four decades, the director—who was also a musician, a visual artist, and an actor—established such a signature aesthetic that Lynchian became a shorthand adjective for things that were odd, disquieting, and, above all, dreamlike.
—Vogue, 16 Jan. 2025
Startling in their familiarity, these scenes have become a shorthand for an ongoing nightmare.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Jan. 2025
The reference to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court was shorthand for one of Trump’s elastic theories about how Democrats had spied on his 2016 campaign.
—Shane Harris, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2025
Brat occupied the collective consciousness and became a shorthand to describe people daring enough to be bold in the face of potential scrutiny, as ascribed to Kamala Harris’ unexpected presidential run after President Biden dropped out of the race.
—Dr. Marcus Collins, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
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Vogue, 16 Jan. 2025
Startling in their familiarity, these scenes have become a shorthand for an ongoing nightmare.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Jan. 2025
The reference to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court was shorthand for one of Trump’s elastic theories about how Democrats had spied on his 2016 campaign.
—Shane Harris, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2025
Brat occupied the collective consciousness and became a shorthand to describe people daring enough to be bold in the face of potential scrutiny, as ascribed to Kamala Harris’ unexpected presidential run after President Biden dropped out of the race.
—Dr. Marcus Collins, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shorthand
Dictionary Entries Near shorthand
Cite this Entry
“Shorthand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shorthand. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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