shorter

Shorter is the comparative form of the adjective short. It describes something that has less length, duration, or extent than another thing. In everyday use, shorter typically modifies a noun or appears in noun phrases: a shorter route, a shorter version, or a shorter waiting period. It is used in comparisons such as “The trip was shorter than we expected.”

Originating from Old English sceort, the word acquired the standard English comparative suffix -er. As with other adjectives, shorter forms the comparative by adding -er, yielding the sense of reduced distance or time.

Shorter can describe physical length, time, or degree. The comparative construction usually follows the pattern A is shorter than B. While it commonly modifies nouns, it can appear in adjective phrases that refer to measurements, proportions, or schedules. In natural English usage, shorter is preferred over phrases like “more short,” which are generally avoided.

Related terms include short, shortest, longer, length, brevity, and conciseness. The concept contrasts with longer and longest and is often used in contexts such as travel, writing, or scheduling to indicate reduced size, duration, or extent.