: the quality of being brief: such as
a
: the use of few words to say something
I've omitted certain passages for the sake of brevity. [=because I want to be brief]
The book's major flaw is its brevity.
"Brevity is the soul of wit…"—
Shakespeare, Hamlet (1600)
Shakespeare, Hamlet (1600)
b
: the quality or fact of lasting only for a short period of time
the brevity of youth
Cite this Entry
“Brevity.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/brevity. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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