brevity

American  

[brev-i-tee] / ˈbrɛv ɪ ti /

noun

1. shortness of time or duration; briefness.

   the brevity of human life.

   Antonyms:

   length

2. the quality of expressing much in few words; terseness.

   Ironically, it is long-winded Polonius in Shakespeare's Hamlet who famously says that brevity is the soul of wit.

   Synonyms:

   pithiness, succinctness, compactness

   Antonyms:

   length

---

brevity British  

/ ˈbrɛvɪtɪ /

noun

1. conciseness of expression; lack of verbosity

2. a short duration; brief time

---

Related Words

Brevity, conciseness refer to the use of few words in speaking. Brevity emphasizes the short duration of speech: a response reduced to extreme brevity. Conciseness emphasizes compactness of expression: Her prose is clear in spite of great conciseness.

Etymology

Origin of brevity

First recorded in 1500–10; from Anglo-French brevite, Old French brievete, from briev(e), feminine of brief brief + -ete -ity

Explanation

The noun brevity means "shortness" or "conciseness." If you give a report on agriculture in the northern hemisphere in 3 minutes, you have done it with incredible brevity. Brevity comes from brevis, which means "brief" in Latin. You can use brevity for things that are literally short, like the brevity of an elevator meeting, or the quality of fleetingness, like the brevity of youth. Brevity is also a style of speaking or writing with economy. "Brevity is the soul of wit," remarks Polonius in Shakespeare's Hamlet, suggesting that witty people know how to make a point without unnecessary words.

Example Sentences

The other issue with the album is its brevity.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

Yet the brevity of this pre-election period "will likely not have much of an effect", said Michael Cucek, assistant professor of Asian Studies at Temple University's Japan Campus.

From Barron's • Jan. 27, 2026

Sherling said the two services will appeal to different audiences, with CNN Headline viewers looking for brevity while paying customers get the breadth and depth they expect from the cable channel.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 16, 2025

His statement was notable for its relative, and unusual, brevity – but primarily for its vagueness.

From BBC • Aug. 16, 2025

Possessing great courage and high goals, he could not have conducted himself in any other manner, and his plans were frustrated solely by the brevity of Alexander’s life and by his own illness.

From "The Prince" by Niccolò Machiavelli