abridgment

American  

[uh-brij-muhnt] / əˈbrɪdʒ mənt /

Or abridgement

noun

1. a shortened or condensed form of a book, speech, etc., that still retains the basic contents.

   an abridgment of Tolstoy's War and Peace.

   Synonyms:

   outline, brief, syllabus, conspectus, précis, summary, abstract, synopsis, compendium, epitome, digest

   Antonyms:

   enlargement, expansion

2. the act or process of abridging.

   Synonyms:

   compression, contraction, shortening, reduction

   Antonyms:

   enlargement, expansion

3. the state of being abridged.

4. reduction or curtailment.

   abridgment of civil rights.

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abridgment British  

/ əˈbrɪdʒmənt /

noun

1. a shortened version of a written work

2. the act of abridging or state of being abridged

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Other Word Forms

• nonabridgment noun

Etymology

Origin of abridgment

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English abreg(g)ement, abrygement, from Middle French abregement; abridge, -ment

Example Sentences

“Article IV: Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas.”

From Salon

The Supreme Court ruled without dissenting opinions that the law did not violate the US Constitution's First Amendment protection against government abridgment of free speech.

From BBC

Democratic National Committee decision in 2021, banned any voting measure that "results in a denial or abridgment of the right of any citizen of the United States to vote on account of race."

From Salon

Eating and chewing, alone or in the company of others, feels as though it ought to be up to the person most affected, and protected from abridgment of any kind, even by the states.

From Washington Post

The Post says that all letters are subject to editing and abridgment.

From Washington Post