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

But the economic upswing in Germany is not shared by steel and coal workers in the Ruhr area, where strikes for fair wages and a shortening of the sixty-hour work week prompt steel barons to order massive lockouts and layoffs. —Literary Hub, 8 Dec. 2025

Hollywood’s shift to streaming has turned its business model on its side – shortening films’ exclusivity periods in theaters to around 45 days from two months, reducing the number of writers on shows and the number of episodes in a season. —David Goldman, CNN Money, 6 Dec. 2025

In contrast, traditional flour tortillas are typically made with white flour, water, a source of fat like vegetable shortening, lard, or oil, salt, and leavening agents like baking powder. —Jillian Kubala, Health, 1 Dec. 2025

Pat McGinnis, co-owner of Kelly's Pot Pies & More, said the secret to a rich, flaky texture is to use lard instead of butter or shortening. —Angelika Ytuarte, jsonline.com, 25 Nov. 2025

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