abridge

verb

ə-ˈbrij 

abridged; abridging

transitive verb

1

: to shorten by omission of words without sacrifice of sense : condense

abridge a novel

an abridged dictionary

2

: to shorten in duration or extent

Tess wished to abridge her visit as much as possible …

—Thomas Hardy

3

formal : to reduce in scope : diminish

attempts to abridge the right of free speech

4

archaic : deprive

abridger noun

Synonyms

• shorten
• curtail

Choose the Right Synonym for abridge

shorten, curtail, abbreviate, abridge, retrench mean to reduce in extent.

shorten implies reduction in length or duration.

shorten a speech

curtail adds an implication of cutting that in some way deprives of completeness or adequacy.

ceremonies curtailed because of rain

abbreviate implies a making shorter usually by omitting some part.

using an abbreviated title

abridge implies a reduction in compass or scope with retention of essential elements and a relative completeness in the result.

the abridged version of the novel

retrench suggests a reduction in extent or costs of something felt to be excessive.

declining business forced the company to retrench

Examples of abridge in a Sentence

abridge a dictionary by omitting rare words

the library's hours have been drastically abridged to cut costs

Recent Examples on the Web

Other law firms, such as Perkins Coie and WilmerHale, have challenged the administration’s orders and petitioned federal courts to bar enforcement of these orders that, in their view, are retaliatory in nature and abridge their right to free speech and engage freely in the practice of law. —Blake D. Morant, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025

The Old Globe San Diego, California Dates: June 8 to July 6, 2025, and July 27 to August 24, 2025 Modeled after the Old Globe in London, the Old Globe’s theater was built in San Diego’s Balboa Park in 1935 to present abridged Shakespeare during the California Pacific International Exposition. —Ellen Carpenter, AFAR Media, 19 May 2025

Three firms have sued, arguing that the orders abridge constitutional rights to free speech, due process, and assistance of counsel. —Henry Gass, Christian Science Monitor, 3 Apr. 2025

Establishing spheres of influence involves a dominant power abridging the sovereignty of geographically proximate states—as Trump is seeking to do with Canada, Greenland, and Mexico and as China is attempting with Taiwan. —Monica Duffy Toft, Foreign Affairs, 13 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English abreggen, abriggen "to reduce, diminish, shorten," borrowed from Anglo-French abreger, going back to Late Latin abbreviāre, from Latin ad- ad- + breviāre "to shorten, abridge," verbal derivative of brevis "short" — more at brief entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Rhymes for abridge

• drawbridge
• footbridge
• oxbridge
• bridge
• fridge
• midge
• ridge

Kids Definition

abridge

verb

ə-ˈbrij 

abridged; abridging

1

formal : to make less : diminish

forbidden to abridge the rights of citizens

2

: to shorten in duration or extent

3

: to shorten by omission of words : condense

abridger noun

Etymology

Middle English abregen "deprive, reduce," from early French abreger (same meaning), from Latin abbreviare "to shorten" — related to abbreviate

Legal Definition

abridge

transitive verb

ə-ˈbrij 

abridged; abridging

: to diminish or reduce in scope

no State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States

—U.S. Constitution amend. XIV

abridgment noun

or abridgement