shorthand

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noun short·hand \ ˈshȯrt-ˌhand \

Definition of shorthand

1 :a method of writing rapidly by substituting characters, abbreviations, or symbols for letters, sounds, words, or phrases :stenography

2 :something likened to shorthand especially in providing rapid or abbreviated communication or representation

stereotype and cliché serve a purpose as a form of shorthand
—Stephanie Ericsson

headline shorthand

—

shorthand

adjective

See shorthand defined for English-language learners

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Recent Examples of shorthand from the Web

But the brand of Proposition 13 has remained potent, a political shorthand for low taxes.

— john myers, latimes.com, "Political Road Map: Here's how aging baby boomers will change the impact of Prop. 13," 9 July 2017
Among the Willow Aces, who know their territory intimately enough to speak of landmarks with shorthand names such as the Flatiron, the Icebox and the Broken-Ass Pine, this is a common refrain.

— rick romell, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Despite growing worries about the herd's health, the annual fall deer hunt continues as a family tradition," 6 July 2017
Maze became a combustible training ground for some of the IRA’s most famous soldiers and—after Bobby Sands and nine others were permitted to die while waging a hunger strike within its walls—a lightning rod and ready shorthand for British brutality.

— cori crider, The Atlantic, "The Danger of Yemen's Secret Prisons," 25 June 2017
When one talks of moving up the ranks, Wilcox’s name could be shorthand.

— howard cohen, miamiherald, "Kenny Wilcox, a Boys & Girls Club coach most his life, dies at 57," 23 June 2017
But here goes: Many players have their reductive one-sentence shorthand.

— jon wertheim, SI.com, "50 parting thoughts from the 2017 French Open," 11 June 2017
Even relatives who’d known us since birth struggled to distinguish who was whom and chastised us both when one of us cut her hair and ruined their shorthand for telling us apart.

— anya groner, Longreads, "Twinless in Twinsburg," 9 June 2017
While the 68-year-old represents a constituency in Islington, a part of London that is shorthand for the country's liberal urban elite, Corbyn was born in the village of Chippenham.

— NBC News, "Jeremy Corbyn: ‘Shambolic’ Socialist Gives U.K. Establishment a Run for Its Money," 5 June 2017
Magnusson is in charge of interior colors, materials and finishes, or in designer shorthand, CMF.

— russ mitchell, latimes.com, "Can an automobile interior evoke the spirit of California? Ask Lucid, a Tesla competitor," 31 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'shorthand.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of shorthand

1636

SHORTHAND Defined for English Language Learners

shorthand

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noun

Definition of shorthand for English Language Learners

: a method of writing quickly by using symbols or abbreviations for sounds, words, or phrases
: a short or quick way of showing or saying something

Learn More about shorthand

See words that rhyme with shorthand Spanish Central: Translation of shorthand Nglish: Translation of shorthand for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about shorthand

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shorthand

Definition of shorthand

shorthand

Recent Examples of shorthand from the Web

First Known Use of shorthand

SHORTHAND Defined for English Language Learners

shorthand

Definition of shorthand for English Language Learners

Learn More about shorthand

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shorthand

Definition of shorthand

shorthand

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SHORTHAND Defined for English Language Learners

shorthand

Definition of shorthand for English Language Learners

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