abridgment

or a·bridge·ment

[ uh-brij-muhnt ]

noun

1. a shortened or condensed form of a book, speech, etc., that still retains the basic contents:

   an abridgment of Tolstoy's War and Peace.

   Synonyms: outline, brief, syllabus, conspectus, précis, summary, abstract, synopsis, compendium, epitome, digest

   Antonyms: enlargement, expansion

2. the act or process of abridging.

   Synonyms: compression, contraction, shortening, reduction

   Antonyms: enlargement, expansion

3. the state of being abridged.
4. reduction or curtailment:

   abridgment of civil rights.

abridgment

/ əˈbrɪdʒmənt /

noun

1. a shortened version of a written work
2. the act of abridging or state of being abridged

Other Words From

• nona·bridgment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of abridgment¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English abreg(g)ement, abrygement, from Middle French abregement; abridge, -ment

Example Sentences

Democratic National Committee decision in 2021, banned any voting measure that "results in a denial or abridgment of the right of any citizen of the United States to vote on account of race."

From Salon

Section 2 bans any voting procedure that “results in a denial or abridgment of the right of any citizen of the United States to vote on account of race.”

From New York Times

But another clause of the Constitution, which the court relegates to a footnote, protects the “privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States” against state abridgment.

From Washington Post

Eating and chewing, alone or in the company of others, feels as though it ought to be up to the person most affected, and protected from abridgment of any kind, even by the states.

From Washington Post

This will become a vicious internecine legislative war that, given the right political circumstances, could result in the wholesale abridgment of rights that should be considered basic.

From Washington Post