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.
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 His fiction has always had an ethical thrust, at its strongest in inventive and often brilliant short stories that channel the economically weak and exploited. Julius Taranto, The Atlantic, 27 Jan. 2026 But six short stories is a good tradeoff, and these show the author’s great versatility. Sandra Dallas, Denver Post, 24 Jan. 2026 Julian Barnes wrote about the idea in a short story, ‘The Silence,’ published in 2004. Dan Sheehan, Literary Hub, 22 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Short story.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/short%20story. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.

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!