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.
William Alexander’s adult SF debut grew out of a short story featured in The Sunday Morning Transport, about planetary courier Tova Lir and Agatha Panza von Sparkles, one of her baby bot apprentices—functionally, her foster children. Natalie Zutter september 2, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025 Shirley is a prolific author of more than 80 novels and short story collections spanning a wide range of genres from sci-fi to westerns. Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025 Based on screenwriter Ben Shattuck’s short story of the same name, the film follows two men who fall in love at the Boston Music Conservatory—and reconnect after the war ends, traveling through rural Maine to record the folk songs of their fellow countrymen. Ben Rosenstock, Time, 27 Aug. 2025 Every one of the eight songs feels like its own movie, short story or novel. Steve Baltin, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 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

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Cite this Entry

“Short story.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/short%20story. Accessed 9 Sep. 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

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