brevity

American  

[brev-i-tee] / ˈbrɛv ɪ ti /

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

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brevity British  

/ ˈbrɛvɪtɪ /

noun

1. conciseness of expression; lack of verbosity

2. a short duration; brief time

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Related Words

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.

Etymology

Origin of brevity

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

Example Sentences

But her husband’s diagnosis reminded her of life’s brevity—and that every remaining day of their lives together should be cause for celebration.

From The Wall Street Journal

To Rangers, the brevity of Rohl's managerial career would represent a monumental gamble - and after Martin, the new Ibrox board probably thought they were done with monumental gambles.

From BBC

The settings—generic spaces such as cafés, train stations, hotel lobbies, and offices—tend to be described with similar brevity, while the detectives’ actions are recounted in prose generally lacking metaphor, simile, or fanciful digression.

From The Wall Street Journal

Short films contextualize the seeming randomness and brevity of human existence.

From The Wall Street Journal

Sherling said the two services will appeal to different audiences, with CNN Headline viewers looking for brevity while paying customers get the breadth and depth they expect from the cable channel.

From Los Angeles Times