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

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

Once in place, attackers are prevented from pivoting freely from segment to segment, thereby containing potential attacks, shortening mitigation timelines and lowering financial impact. —Jaushin Lee, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026

With the shortening of product life cycles and the saturation of major market segments, marketers have developed varied approaches such as positioning, niche marketing, and one-to-one marketing. —Ezgi Eyüboğlu, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 May 2026

Using the all-together method allows for safer substitution of oil for shortening, but both methods are fairly reliable when baking. —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 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