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

Make a simple cake batter using self-rising flour, eggs, buttermilk, shortening, and sugar. —Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Dec. 2024

Regional Transportation District officials on Friday announced the end of slow zone speed restrictions for northbound D Line light rail trains and the shortening of a slow zone along the E and H lines as part of the agency’s catch-up maintenance to fix and replace deteriorating tracks. —Bruce Finley, The Denver Post, 7 Feb. 2025

The United States lags behind other high-income countries in average life expectancy, with heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, and cancer shortening millions of lives per year. —Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025

Genetic samples collected via cheek swabs and analyzed using qPCR revealed that telomeres in hibernating lemurs not only avoided shortening but actually grew longer. —Jenny Lehmann, Discover Magazine, 13 Mar. 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