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

Synonyms of short story

• tale
• story
• novella
• narrative

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

According to EduTopia, putting images and short stories or quotes around the classroom can inspire students and give them a greater sense of belonging. — Sacbee.com, 24 Aug. 2026

The Complete Stories Published in 1971 but written much earlier, Flannery O’Connor’s sharp, Southern Gothic short stories cement her place in the American literary canon. — Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026

His short stories and travel writing have appeared in Granta, Boston Review, The Georgia Review, the Sunday Times, and other publications. — Literary Hub, 21 Aug. 2026

Hancock wrote the script adapting the book by Matt and Harrison Query, which in turn was based on a short story by Matt Query that first appeared on Reddit. — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 20 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1861, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for short story

• aurore
• forbore
• outlawry
• pylori
• savoury
• signori
• signory
• vainglory
• accusatory
• admonitory
• ambulatory
• amendatory

Kids Definition

short story

noun

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