Definition of succinct
1 archaic a : being girdedb : close-fitting
2 : marked by compact precise expression without wasted words a succinct description
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Examples of succinct in a Sentence
Other experts are in the business of selling their research. Alan Greenspan made his reputation and career as a partner of Townsend-Greenspan, whose clients were a who's who of old Wall Street. Successful research firms can command substantial fees, and buyers demand clear, succinct and unequivocal analysis and predictions. —Zachary Karabell, Newsweek, 9 Mar. 2009
As Esther Benbassa recounts in her dry but impressively succinct and informative history, they arrived in the Roman province of Gaul in the first centuries of the common era, and soon found themselves trod underfoot by the ascendant Christian church. —David A. Bell, New Republic, 28 Feb. 2000
In his first work of popular science, English theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking proves himself to be a master of vivid clarity. His title, “ A Brief History of Time,” is understated even by British standards; in 198 pages Hawking manages no less than a succinct history of cosmology, a concise explanation of general relativity and its intersection with quantum mechanics … —Richard Rhodes, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 1988
He gave a succinct overview of the expansion project.
a pocket guide that provides succinct explanations for rules of grammar and punctuation
A Succinct History of Succinct
The history of "succinct" might not be short, but it's a cinch to remember. "Succinct" traces to the Latin verb succingere ("to gird about"), which comes from "cingere" ("to gird"), the word that gave us "cincture" and "cinch." The earliest uses of succinct meant "confined" or "girded up," and, as such, it was often used in reference to garments encircled by a band. Eventually, "succinct" was extended to the realm of insects, where it meant "supported by a band of silk around the middle" (as in "the succinct pupa of a butterfly"). Later, the word was applied to writings. A "succinct" piece of writing is "compressed" or "compact" and uses as few words as possible.
Origin and Etymology of succinct
Middle English, from Latin succinctus having one's clothes gathered up by a belt, tightly wrapped, concise, from sub- + cinctus, past participle of cingere to gird — more at cincture
First Known Use: 15th century
Synonym Discussion of succinct
SUCCINCT Defined for English Language Learners
succinct
playDefinition of succinct for English Language Learners
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: using few words to state or express an idea
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See words that rhyme with succinct Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for succinct Spanish Central: Translation of succinct Nglish: Translation of succinct for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of succinct for Arabic speakers
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