short story

noun

: an invented prose narrative shorter than a novel usually dealing with a few characters and aiming at unity of effect and often concentrating on the creation of mood rather than plot

Examples of short story in a Sentence

her very first short story was accepted for publication in a local journal
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Her short story collection Parallel Hells was published in 2022 and her first novel, The Decadence is coming this year, both from Sceptre Books. Hazlitt, 13 Mar. 2025 She was called into the principal’s office after writing a short story featuring a scene with mildly violent imagery. Claire Bryan and Sharon Lurye, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Mar. 2025 Jimenez’s short story, The Fall Risk, is out March 1 via Amazon Original Stories, the retailer's audio and digital-only imprint. Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 1 Mar. 2025 Russell’s dispatches and Tolstoy’s short stories marked a radical shift away from the traditional portrayal of war as a noble endeavor. Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for short story

Word History

First Known Use

1861, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of short story was in 1861

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Cite this Entry

“Short story.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/short%20story. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

short story

noun
: a short work of fiction usually dealing with a few characters and a single event

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