brevity

[ brev-i-tee ]

noun

1. shortness of time or duration; briefness:

   the brevity of human life.

   Antonyms: length

2. the quality of expressing much in few words; terseness:

   Ironically, it is long-winded Polonius in Shakespeare's Hamlet who famously says that brevity is the soul of wit.

   Synonyms: pithiness, succinctness, compactness

   Antonyms: length

brevity

/ ˈbrɛvɪtɪ /

noun

1. conciseness of expression; lack of verbosity
2. a short duration; brief time

Word History and Origins

Origin of brevity¹

First recorded in 1500–10; from Anglo-French brevite, Old French brievete, from briev(e), feminine of brief brief + -ete -ity

Word History and Origins

Origin of brevity¹

C16: from Latin brevitās shortness, from brevis brief

Synonym Study

Brevity, conciseness refer to the use of few words in speaking. Brevity emphasizes the short duration of speech: a response reduced to extreme brevity. Conciseness emphasizes compactness of expression: Her prose is clear in spite of great conciseness.

Example Sentences

But they can often skew in one direction or lack context because of the nature of social media platforms, where brevity is prized.

From Los Angeles Times

It's like she's haunted by her mother's love and the brevity of her life.

From Salon

She said reporters should throw off the traditional journalistic imperative of brevity and simplicity and quote Trump in full, revealing how he actually expresses himself.

From Los Angeles Times

The brevity is, of course, a function of Joe Biden’s catatonic debate performance, ensuing Democratic panic and the president’s overnight replacement in the shank of summer by his vice presidential understudy, Kamala Harris.

From Los Angeles Times

Let's commend him for brevity: “I think the world is in decline,” he said, “not necessarily the USA.”

From Salon