BREVITY Definition & Meaning

View synonyms for

brevity

[ brev-i-tee ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

shortness of time or duration; briefness:
the brevity of human life.
Antonyms:
the quality of expressing much in few words; terseness:
Ironically, it is long-winded Polonius in Shakespeare's Hamlet who famously says that brevity is the soul of wit.
Synonyms: , ,
Antonyms:

brevity

/ ˈ��ɛ��ɪ��ɪ /

noun

conciseness of expression; lack of verbosity
a short duration; brief time

Discover More

51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of brevity¹

First recorded in 1500–10; from Anglo-French brevite, Old French brievete, from briev(e), feminine of brief brief + -ete -ity

Discover More

51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of brevity¹

C16: from Latin ��𱹾�� shortness, from brevis brief

Discover More

Synonym Study

Brevity, conciseness refer to the use of few words in speaking. Brevity emphasizes the short duration of speech: a response reduced to extreme brevity. Conciseness emphasizes compactness of expression: Her prose is clear in spite of great conciseness.

Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The following has been edited slightly for style and brevity.

From

Journalism organizations commonly edit interviews for brevity and clarity.

From

Don’t let the brevity of this list fool you!

From

Then there's the brevity of each script - average length of about five signs or symbols - with no long texts on walls, tablets or upright stone slabs.

From

Hawks’ responses have been edited for brevity and clarity.

From

brevirostrate Brevity is the soul of wit

Browse