short story

noun

Synonyms of short storynext
: an invented prose narrative shorter than a novel usually dealing with a few characters and aiming at unity of effect and often concentrating on the creation of mood rather than plot

Examples of short story in a Sentence

her very first short story was accepted for publication in a local journal
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Her new short story collection Bargain Bargain Bargain will be published by McClelland & Stewart in 2026. Hazlitt, 6 Feb. 2026 Owen Egerton adapted the screenplay from his own short story. Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 6 Feb. 2026 The short story collection Tenth of December was a finalist for the National Book Award and won the inaugural Folio Prize in 2013 (for the best work of fiction in English) and the Story Prize (best short story collection). Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026 Asimov, who wrote extensively about non-human intelligence in books and short stories such as I, Robot, appears in the first scene, and elsewhere, of Veatch’s movie. David Bloom, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for short story

Word History

First Known Use

1861, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of short story was in 1861

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Cite this Entry

“Short story.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/short%20story. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

short story

noun
: a short work of fiction usually dealing with a few characters and a single event

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