short story

noun

: 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.
Loosely based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the film tells the tale of Benjamin Button, who is born with the appearance and strength of an elderly man and ultimately ages backward into infancy. Derek Scancarelli, EW.com, 27 June 2025 From James Baldwin to Emily Henry, Atwood to Zola—AI has already consumed every novel ever written, plus all the poetry and short stories and flash fiction. Literary Hub, 26 June 2025 Amazon and Working Title will be releasing Crime 101, based on another Winslow short story, on President’s Day weekend 2026. Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 25 June 2025 His writing, including short stories, plays and screenplays, reflects his humorous take on life and teaching. Joe Lynn, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Short story.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/short%20story. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

short story

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

More from Merriam-Webster on short story

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!