abridged

American  

[uh-brijd] / əˈbrɪdʒd /

adjective

1. (of a book, document, presentation, etc.) shortened by omitting less important parts while retaining the basic content.

   I didn't realize it was an abridged audiobook until I was surprised by how fast it was over.

2. reduced or lessened in duration, scope, authority, etc.; diminished or curtailed.

   Any time anyone's opportunity to vote is hampered, we need to do whatever we can to see that those abridged rights are faced, challenged, and changed.

---

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of abridge.

Etymology

Origin of abridged

abridge ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Explanation

An abridged version of a book is a shortened version: it's not complete because parts have been cut or omitted. Sometimes you have time to read all of something, but other times you don't. When you need to save time, you might need to look at an abridged version of a book. This is also called the "Reader's Digest version" of something, because that magazine publishes many abridged pieces. Reading an abridged text may save time, but don't kid yourself: the stuff left out was important too. If you really like an author, forget the abridged version and read the whole thing.

Example Sentences

A right can be denied outright, or it can be abridged, reduced, made less meaningful in practice while remaining formally available.

From Slate • May 8, 2026

The Collegiate—an abridged, more manageable version of the company’s gargantuan International edition—was introduced in 1898 and had been revised roughly every decade thereafter.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 19, 2025

The Precision crew offered to put me through an abridged version of the member experience.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 9, 2025

“Article V: A person’s right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views.”

From Salon • Mar. 30, 2025

Somewhere deep in the Heart of Stone, I relaxed, glad that the master’s irritation was based on Hemme’s angrily abridged version of the truth.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

Related Words

• deficient
• fragmentary
• inadequate
• insufficient
• lacking
• partial
• sketchy