Jump To:

• short list
  short list

  noun

  a list of those people or items preferred or most likely to be chosen, as winnowed from a longer list of possibilities.
• short-list
  short-list

  verb (used with object)

  to put on a short list.

short list

¹ American  

Or shortlist

noun

1. a list of those people or items preferred or most likely to be chosen, as winnowed from a longer list of possibilities.

---

short-list ² American  

[shawrt-list] / ˈʃɔrtˌlɪst /

Or shortlist

verb (used with object)

1. to put on a short list.

---

short list British  

noun

1. a list of suitable applicants for a job, post, etc, from which the successful candidate will be selected

---

verb

1. to put (someone) on a short list

Other Word Forms

• shortlistee
  noun
• shortlister
  noun

Etymology

Origin of short list

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

short list short-list

Aside from an unlucky draw, there is a short list of reasons a prisoner ends up here.

From Slate ● Aug. 11, 2026

“When he was on that short list, and a couple of newspaper and TV people came to interview me, and I had remembered saying Sam had a strong moral compass,” she says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

The musicians soon shed their black jackets in exchange for personalized Dodgers jerseys emblazoned with their last names, and numbers 11 and 12, representing their respective positions on the short list of L.A.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 28, 2026

On the men's side, former West Ham star Dimitri Payet and Newcastle winger Laurent Robert are two that fans may remember - but those that make it all the way form a short list.

From BBC ● Mar. 8, 2026

What a— I run through a short list of insults in my mind before listening to her continue.

From "Insurgent" by Veronica Roth

“I feel like I’m on the short-list for going there, but it’s really a matter of waiting for the IndyCar schedule and seeing if I’m even available,” Johnson said.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 2, 2022

He sought to articulate and protect “freedom in all its dimensions,” which requires going beyond the relatively short-list of liberties the Constitution explicitly mentions.

From Slate ● Jun. 24, 2022

Trump also indicated that Allison Jones Rushing, a 38-year-old appellate judge from North Carolina, is also on the short-list.

From Washington Times ● Sep. 21, 2020

He was on the short-list for Democrat Hillary Clinton’s vice-presidential candidate in 2016, while he was likewise reported to be a contender for Republican John McCain’s vice presidential pick in 2008 as well.

From Salon ● Dec. 30, 2018

An adviser to another candidate on the White House short-list, former New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, 75, said Kelly is also being persuaded to step out of the running.

From Reuters ● May 16, 2017

Related Words

• waiting list