gist

American  

[jist] / dʒɪst /

noun

gists plural

1. the main or essential part of a matter.

   What was the gist of his speech?

   Synonyms:

   import, kernel, burden, substance, point, essence

2. the ground of a legal action.

---

gist British  

/ dʒɪst /

noun

1. the point or substance of an argument, speech, etc

2. law the essential point of an action

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• gists
  plural

Etymology

Origin of gist

First recorded in 1720–30; from Anglo-French (cest action) gist “(this matter) lies,” 3rd-person singular present of Anglo-French, Old French gesir “to lie” (compare modern French ci-gît “here lies”), ultimately from Latin jacēre; cf. adjacent ( def. ), hic jacet ( def. )

Explanation

When you need a quick summary of the essentials, rather than the whole story or a thorough explanation, you're looking for the gist. The word gist has had a variety of meanings in English, but most of them have become obsolete. The surviving sense of the word entered the language by way of the law: The gist of any legal action is the factor on which the action depends — that is, an alleged assault might be the gist of an indictment. The meaning of gist has evolved, though, and now it can be used to describe the core component of any matter, as in, "He watched the trailer, but he still didn't get the gist of the movie." Or, "She was having trouble writing a headline that conveyed the gist of her article."

Example Sentences

Yet, black representation was cutting through the American mainstream - whether through Carole Gist making history as the first black woman to win Miss USA, or the explosive rise of hip-hop.

From BBC • Jun. 6, 2026

Thomas Gist stand in front of City Stage, a theatre for and of the homeless on January 2, 1987.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 10, 2025

He had called for the removal of the superintendent, Deborah A. Gist, whom he blamed for poor outcomes.

From New York Times • Aug. 24, 2023

Earlier this year, his wife, DeAndrea Gist Benjamin, was sworn in as a judge on the 4th US.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 27, 2023

When rapids slowed their progress, Washington, determined to get his information to Dinwiddie swiftly, set out on foot with Gist.

From "George Washington, Spymaster" by Thomas B. Allen

Related Words

• summary
• tenor
• upshot