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• short list
  short list

  noun

  a list of those people or items preferred or most likely to be chosen, as winnowed from a longer list of possibilities.
• short-list
  short-list

  verb (used with object)

  to put on a short list.

short list

¹ American  

Or shortlist

noun

1. a list of those people or items preferred or most likely to be chosen, as winnowed from a longer list of possibilities.

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short-list ² American  

[shawrt-list] / ˈʃɔrtˌlɪst /

Or shortlist

verb (used with object)

1. to put on a short list.

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short list British  

noun

1. a list of suitable applicants for a job, post, etc, from which the successful candidate will be selected

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verb

1. to put (someone) on a short list

Other Word Forms

• shortlistee
  noun
• shortlister
  noun

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Etymology

Origin of short list

First recorded in 1925–30

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

short list short-list

Now, researchers have added another world to that short list.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 7, 2026

Earlier that morning, Axios co-founder Jim VandeHei published a flattering bulletin placing Schmitt atop the speculative short list to be Vice President JD Vance’s 2028 running mate, quoting admirers of the senator.

From Salon ● Oct. 1, 2026

Ellison’s short list includes Tennessee, Texas and Georgia.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026

Aside from an unlucky draw, there is a short list of reasons a prisoner ends up here.

From Slate ● Aug. 11, 2026

What you will find here is a short list of the most common articulations: their names, what they look like when notated, and a vague description of how they sound.

From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones

“I feel like I’m on the short-list for going there, but it’s really a matter of waiting for the IndyCar schedule and seeing if I’m even available,” Johnson said.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 2, 2022

He sought to articulate and protect “freedom in all its dimensions,” which requires going beyond the relatively short-list of liberties the Constitution explicitly mentions.

From Slate ● Jun. 24, 2022

Trump tells reporters that his short-list for the critical post is made up of Robert O’Brien, Ric Waddell, Lisa E. Gordon-Hagerty, Fred Fleitz and Keith Kellogg.

From Washington Times ● Sep. 17, 2019

Ratcliffe had also reportedly been on Trump's short-list to replace former Attorney General Jeff Sessions before he ultimately chose William Barr.

From Salon ● Jul. 29, 2019

MLS included Nashville on a short-list of four bidders for the two expansion teams that are scheduled to begin playing by 2020.

From Reuters ● Dec. 19, 2017

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Related Words

• waiting list

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