shorty

American  

[shawr-tee] / ˈʃɔr ti /

Or shortie

noun

shorties plural

1. a person of less than average stature (sometimes used as a disparaging and offensive term of address).

2. a garment designed to be of short length, as a hospital bed jacket.

3. Slang. Also shawty

   1. a girl or woman.

      We watched the shorties on the dance floor, all lookin' so fine.

   2. a girlfriend or sweetheart.

      Me and my shorty went to that new club over on Ninth last night; what a scene!

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adjective

1. noting a garment designed to be of short length.

   a shorty nightgown; shorty pajamas.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• shorties
  plural

Etymology

Origin of shorty

First recorded in 1905–10; short + -y ²

Example Sentences

And then when you get a shorty you may say, “Yo, babe, I look nice. I’m good.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026

Scotland got on the board with a penalty from player of the match Helen Nelson and looked to have taken the lead shorty after from a five metre lineout.

From BBC • Mar. 22, 2025

Ertz subbed out in the 35th minute to a standing ovation from the crowd at TQL Stadium, shorty after Trinity Rodman’s goal that made it 2-0.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 21, 2023

"You got some moves, shorty, but you run into contact when you should cut?"

From Salon • Sep. 14, 2023

LeAlan: Why you trying to serve if you only a shorty?

From "Our America: Life and Death on the South Side of Chicago" by LeAlan Jones