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 Ericsson
headline shorthand
shorthand adjective
Examples of shorthand in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
That ambiguity effectively eliminates a visual shorthand that once defined the stoner genre at a glance. —Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 20 Apr. 2026 The number 420 itself has also become shorthand for marijuana culture, often used as a colloquial reference to the plant and the act of consuming it. —Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2026 The tension between genuine interest and aesthetic shorthand isn’t a flaw of the trend. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 19 Apr. 2026 In practice, critics say, the phrase has become shorthand for science in which preferred outcomes outweigh inconvenient evidence. —Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shorthand
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 20 Apr. 2026 The number 420 itself has also become shorthand for marijuana culture, often used as a colloquial reference to the plant and the act of consuming it. —Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2026 The tension between genuine interest and aesthetic shorthand isn’t a flaw of the trend. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 19 Apr. 2026 In practice, critics say, the phrase has become shorthand for science in which preferred outcomes outweigh inconvenient evidence. —Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shorthand
Cite this Entry
“Shorthand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/shorthand. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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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