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

headline shorthand

shorthand adjective

Examples of shorthand in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The neighborhood Qiantan is not yet shorthand for glamour—and that’s precisely its appeal. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026

Perched above Los Angeles like a promise, the Hollywood Sign has long stood as shorthand for ambition, illusion and the strange alchemy of fame. —Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026

From Bang Bar by Momofuku to Hattie B’s Hot Chicken, each eatery delivers a polished, gourmet twist on the old-school food court — proof that the format has become shorthand for choice, freshness and a bit of culinary theater. —David Dickstein, Oc Register, 22 Apr. 2026

That ambiguity effectively eliminates a visual shorthand that once defined the stoner genre at a glance. —Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 20 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1636, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing shorthand

• in shorthand
• shorthand reporter
• shorthand typist
• take shorthand

Rhymes for shorthand

• armband
• backhand
• bandstand
• baseband
• broadband
• command
• cropland
• demand
• disband
• dreamland
• expand
• farmhand

Kids 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