adjective
-
terse and full of meaning or substance
-
of, resembling, or full of pith
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of pithy
Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; see origin at pith, -y 1
Explanation
A pithy phrase or statement is brief but full of substance and meaning. Proverbs and sayings are pithy; newspaper columnists give pithy advice. The root of this word is pith, which refers to the spongy tissue in plant stems, or the white part under the skin of citrus fruits. Pith is also used figuratively to refer to the essential part of something: They finally got to the pith of the discussion. Pith descends from Middle English, from Old English pitha "the pith of plants." In the adjective pithy, the suffix –y means "characterized by."
Vocabulary lists containing pithy
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Glass Castle
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
They would funnel information and boil down data to pithy takeaways for their superiors.
From MarketWatch • May 7, 2026
A three-judge panel on Thursday rejected the request in a pithy unsigned order.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026
One pithy tech commentator dubbed it “Cocomelon for adults.”
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 26, 2025
"I am absolutely clear that no one is irreplaceable," was another pithy expression.
From BBC • Sep. 9, 2025
The consequence of all that ice was a wretched Thanksgiving of tiny tough birds, heavy pork cakes, and pithy sweet potatoes.
From "Sula" by Toni Morrison
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
