shortness

Shortness is the quality or state of being short in length, duration, extent, or amount. It is often used as a general opposite of length, fullness, or abundance. The concept appears in everyday language to describe objects with limited size, places with limited distance, and periods of time that are brief. In measurement and comparison, shortness can be relative to a chosen reference point, so what is short for one context may be long for another.

In medicine, the term shortness is most commonly encountered in shortness of breath, or dyspnea, a subjective sensation of breathing difficulty. Dyspnea can accompany a wide range of conditions, from acute illness to chronic disease, and may require medical evaluation, especially if it is new, worsening, or accompanied by chest pain, fainting, or bluish skin.

In linguistics and rhetoric, shortness describes conciseness or economy of expression—the opposite of verbosity. Writers and speakers may seek shortness to achieve clarity and impact. In design and engineering, shorter length can influence fit, usability, and aesthetics.

The noun shortness derives from the adjective short, with the suffix -ness indicating a state or quality. Related terms include brevity, truncation, and the idea of concision. See also dyspnea, brevity, and length for related concepts.