gist

American  

[jist] / dʒɪst /

noun

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.

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gist British  

/ dʒɪst /

noun

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

2. law the essential point of an action

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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; adjacent ( def. ), hic jacet ( def. )

Example Sentences

The gist—that only in the relatively untamed countryside do genuine humans exist—seems an unnecessary thing to base a show on.

From The Wall Street Journal

‘It’s not a brilliant recording but you’ll get the gist of it.’

From Literature

This has been the gist of every serious analysis of Europe’s economy for the past several decades, the most recent of which was prepared in 2024 by former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi.

From The Wall Street Journal

The loss has been analysed but not exorcised is his gist.

From BBC

“Now that you’ve gotten the gist of things, you can go ahead and choose your partners.”

From Literature

Related Words

• summary
• tenor
• upshot