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

Julian Barnes wrote about the idea in a short story, ‘The Silence,’ published in 2004. —Dan Sheehan, Literary Hub, 22 Jan. 2026

That’s why McConigley, a novelist who teaches at Colorado State University, jumped at the chance to adapt her short story collections and autobiographical writings for the theater. —John Wenzel, Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2026

One of Cash’s interests, carried over from Earth Angel, her 2023 debut book of short stories, is an overflowing index of animal references. —Niela Orr, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2026

Fittingly, his songs often play like short stories, sketches, and vignettes. —Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Pitchfork, 13 Jan. 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