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• 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.

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short-list ² American  

[shawrt-list] / ˈʃɔrtˌlɪst /

Or shortlist

verb (used with object)

1. to put on a short list.

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short list British  

noun

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

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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

Schmid’s reference to inflation-fighting policy actions adds him to a short list of Fed officials who have hinted that an interest-rate increase could be called for if inflation remains stubborn or rises.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 31, 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

Her recipe only calls for a short list of ingredients that also happen to be pantry staples.

From Salon ● Dec. 15, 2025

Fred would have already generated a short list of potential candidates.

From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen

“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 tells reporters that his short-list for the critical post is made up of Robert O’Brien, Ric Waddell, Lisa E. Gordon-Hagerty, Fred Fleitz and Keith Kellogg.

From Washington Times ● Sep. 17, 2019

Ratcliffe had also reportedly been on Trump's short-list to replace former Attorney General Jeff Sessions before he ultimately chose William Barr.

From Salon ● Jul. 29, 2019

Notably absent from the short-list this year was French-language "Elle," which won the foreign language Golden Globe earlier in January.

From Reuters ● Jan. 24, 2017

Related Words

• waiting list