concision
Americannoun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of concision
1350–1400; Middle English (< Middle French ) < Latin concīsiōn- (stem of concīsiō ), equivalent to concīs ( us ) concise + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
The noun concision means briefness or brevity. If it's taken you only two minutes to describe all nine seasons of your favorite TV show, you've done it with concision. In the 1500s, concision meant "a cutting away" or "a mutilation," from the Latin concidere, "to cut off or cut to pieces." For some wordy writers, an editor's emphasis on concision (cutting out extra words) might feel as violent as that, but really it's simply a matter of becoming more concise, or short and to the point.
Vocabulary lists containing concision
Stories of Ourselves
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cis, cise
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cis, cise (cut)
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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.
Each one is a small masterpiece of concision that combines erudition, insight and dry humor.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 17, 2025
This interview, based on that event, has been edited for clarity and concision.
From Salon • Apr. 22, 2024
These interviews have been lightly edited for clarity and concision.
From Seattle Times • May 4, 2023
Almost half the tracks circle the eight-minute mark, Hecker’s attempt to undermine streaming algorithms he believes prefer clarity and concision.
From New York Times • Apr. 25, 2023
He seldom speaks to the world, and when he breaks his habit of reticence it is to utter an aphorism, perfect in concision and cynicism.
From American Sketches 1908 by Whibley, Charles
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.
