abridged
Americanadjective
-
(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.
-
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
Etymology
Origin of abridged
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.
Vocabulary lists containing abridged
"The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak, Part Eight
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The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl
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Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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 Adding Machine” is often abridged to satisfy contemporary tastes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 18, 2026
I first encountered Louisa May Alcott in an abridged children’s edition of “Little Women” that was brimming with pastel illustrations and tidy moral lessons.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 5, 2026
In 1991, Knopf published an abridged version of the journals with the Cheever family’s assistance.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2025
Baby Kochamma, who had been put in charge of their formal education, had read them an abridged version of The Tempest by Charles and Mary Lamb.
From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
