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

Black Bear’s Wicker, based on author Ursula Wills-Jones’s short story, The Wicker Husband, follows a fisherwoman (Olivia Colman) who commissions the local basketmaker (Peter Dinklage) to weave her a husband (Skarsgård). — Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2026

In addition to acting, Beaumont wrote screenplays, radio scripts, and short stories for magazines. — Skyler Trepel, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Aug. 2026

Wicker, written and directed by Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson, is adapted from Ursula Wills-Jones’ short story The Wicker Husband. — Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026

The project is based on four short stories by Mariana Enríquez, and tells the story of Ema, a woman with the ability to see and hear the dead. — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 28 July 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