précis

American  

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

noun

plural

précis

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

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

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

It made you précis in a really creative way.

From The Guardian • May 22, 2020

A zippy 1967 film by Jacques Tati, “Playtime,” has a scene that serves as a clean précis for “Figure It Out’s” credo.

From Washington Post • May 11, 2020

The succinct catalog, produced when the piece was shown in her 2018 exhibition “Anti-Bodies” at the House of Electronic Arts in Basel, Switzerland, offers a clear précis of her thinking.

From New York Times • Dec. 5, 2019

In any case the précis begins with these illuminating sentences: 94 ...

From The Fight For The Republic in China by Putnam Weale, B. L. (Bertram Lenox)