What does "shorthand" mean?
A rough and rapid method of writing by substituting symbols for letters, words, etc.
Shorthand
/ˈʃɔːthænd/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A rough and rapid method of writing by substituting symbols for letters, words, etc.
- Grammar: shorthand is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: stenography, abbreviated, abbreviation, abbreviation system.
- Useful contrasts: complex, detailed, expanded.
- Usage evidence: This is shorthand writing, by means of which we can keep up with the talker.
How to use "shorthand"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "shorthand" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "shorthand" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "shorthand" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "shorthand" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "shorthand" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "stenography" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "shorthand", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A rough and rapid method of writing by substituting symbols for letters, words, etc. countable, uncountable
"There is a Notion prevails among many People, to yͤ prejudice of all kinds of Short-hand; which is this. That when a Person sets down a Memorandum in his pocket Book in Short-hand, it is lost, in caſe of Death or any other accident, to yͤ rest of yͤ World, though it may contain things of great Consequence to other People. [...] I affirm, [...] that if any Person makes use of my long Short hand, which he will certainly do, in caſe he deſigns that what he writes should be read by another Person, it will be as legible to any one acquainted with this Art, as if it was writ in Round Hand."
- 2 a method of writing rapidly using an abbreviated symbolic system wordnet
- 3 Any brief or shortened way of saying or doing something. broadly, countable, uncountable
"The jargon becomes a shorthand for these advanced concepts."
Verb
- 1 To render (spoken or written words) into shorthand. transitive
"All the time she'd pretended to be fiddling with her purse over there behind the man, she'd been shorthanding him down—every word, every quotation, every date, every name."
- 2 To use a brief or shortened way of saying or doing something. broadly, transitive
"It seems to me, however one looks at it—and I am torpedoing, "shorthanding", my arguments, though they can be developed at great length—that there is no military case for a large standing Army, and I pick out three arguments that I think are tremendously important which I should like the Minister to answer, even though he may reject them."
- 3 To write in shorthand. intransitive
"Steele nodded and settled on the chesterfield. He regarded Betty seriously, her notebook poised on the table beside her as she reclined in her chair. [...] "I remember," Betty acknowledged, and went on shorthanding."
Adjective
- 1 written in abbreviated or symbolic form wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"This is shorthand writing, by means of which we can keep up with the talker."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "shorthand"?
Common synonyms include: stenography, abbreviated, abbreviation, abbreviation system, arrowhead, autograph.
How do you use "shorthand" in a sentence?
This is shorthand writing, by means of which we can keep up with the talker.
How do you pronounce "shorthand"?
Pronounced /ˈʃɔːthænd/.
Etymology
The noun is derived from short + hand (“handwriting; style of penmanship”). The verb is derived from the noun.