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.
Andrzej Sapkowski’s first two Witcher books, both short story collections, are marvelously varied in tone and content, presenting a smorgasbord of standalone Geralt adventures that alternate between the comic and tragic. Scott Meslow, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025 The killer Charles Starkweather, the short stories of Flannery O’Connor, Charles Laughton’s sole cinematic offering, The Night of the Hunter (1955), Terrance Malick’s debut film, Badlands (1973), and Springsteen’s own emotionally fraught childhood each served as inspiration and influence. Richard Newby, HollywoodReporter, 29 Oct. 2025 Written by Haigh, the script is an adaptation of Colm Tóibín’s short story of the same name. Zac Ntim, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2025 Principal photography is underway in Alberta, Canada on the film, which is based on Haigh’s adaptation of Colm Tóibín’s short story of the same name. Leo Barraclough, Variety, 29 Oct. 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 2 Nov. 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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