shortening

noun

short·​en·​ing ˈshȯrt-niŋ 

ˈshȯr-tᵊn-iŋ

1

: the action or process of making or becoming short

specifically : the dropping of the latter part of a word so as to produce a new and shorter word of the same meaning

2

: an edible fat used to shorten baked goods

Examples of shortening in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These defects propagate through the device layers, degrading electron mobility, increasing leakage current, and shortening device reliability lifetimes. —Aditya Jadhav, Interesting Engineering, 8 June 2026

By reducing the need for time-consuming manual point-cloud tracing and data cross-referencing, the new feature helps design teams move more efficiently from raw site capture to CAD-ready drafts and architectural modeling, shortening project turnaround time and reducing manual drafting costs. —New Atlas, 8 June 2026

Made with a combination of peanut butter, butter, and shortening, these cookies are crisp and golden on the outside with a tender, moist interior. —Lizzy Briskin, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 June 2026

Stress-relieving travel can also slow the shortening of telomeres, one of the indicators of biological age. —Alessandra Signorelli, Vogue, 29 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1538, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for shortening

• foreshortening

Kids Definition

shortening

noun

short·​en·​ing

ˈshȯrt-niŋ, 

-ᵊn-iŋ

1

: a making or becoming short or shorter

2

: a fat (as butter or lard) used in baking especially to make pastry flaky or crumbly