short list

noun

: a limited list of important items or individuals
especially : a list of candidates for final consideration (as for a position or a prize)
short-list transitive verb

Examples of short list in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Others prompt for a password, but if the user has never changed the manufacturer’s default, an attacker can try a short list of common credentials. Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2026 Armed with intrigue, skepticism, and excitement, four editors with different hair types put the washday staples to the test to see if Grow-Good earns a spot on the short list of celebrity beauty brands worth the hype. Allure Editors, Allure, 24 Mar. 2026 Instead of another comeback, the home team’s play deteriorated in the final two periods and left the Avs with a game on the short list for worst of the season. Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 17 Mar. 2026 The other players on that short list are Alonzo Mourning, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for short list

Word History

First Known Use

1927, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of short list was in 1927

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Short list.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/short%20list. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.

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