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• précis
  précis

  noun

  a concise summary.
• precis
  precis

  noun

  a summary of the essentials of a text; abstract

précis

American  

[prey-see, prey-see] / preɪˈsi, ˈpreɪ si /

noun

précis plural

1. a concise summary.

   Synonyms:

   abstract, condensation, digest

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verb (used with object)

1. to make a précis of.

precis British  

/ ˈpreɪsiː /

noun

1. a summary of the essentials of a text; abstract

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verb

1. (tr) to make a precis of

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• précis
  plural

Etymology

Origin of précis

1750–60; < French, noun use of adj., literally, cut short. See precise

Explanation

A precis is a summary of something's main points. If you've ever jotted down notes about your main ideas before writing a persuasive essay, you've used a precis. Precis looks like precise, and of course, you always want your precis to be precise. But the words are pronounced differently. Precis comes from the French word précis, so say it like this: "PRAY see." Or you can accent the other syllable: "pray SEE." The s is only pronounced if the word is plural: "PRAY sees." The spelling stays the same.

Example Sentences

As a précis to a larger, more scholarly work, it lacks the depth and historical context that many enthusiasts of classical drama may be hungry for.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026

A précis of Elmer’s early life in Maine is run through by members of the eight-person cast in the bouncy, no-nonsense manner of a graphic novel.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 27, 2025

He segued into a précis of his political life, starting when he was a 29-year-old senator.

From Slate • Mar. 8, 2024

A brief, tactful summary may be in order, a kind of Google Maps précis of the route.

From New York Times • Jan. 14, 2022

He made a précis of every letter he wrote or received from the 1st of January, 1861, to the 8th of the same month, 1898.

From The Life and Letters of Lewis Carroll (Rev. C. L. Dodgson) by Collingwood, Stuart Dodgson