brevity: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Academic
Quick answer
What does “brevity” mean?
Shortness of time or duration.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Shortness of time or duration; conciseness of expression.
The quality of expressing much in few words, or the quality of being brief in time. It is a stylistic virtue in writing and speech, and a factual characteristic of an event or period.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The word is equally used in both varieties.
Connotations
Universally positive for communication (clarity, respect for audience's time). Potentially negative for life events (sadness over short duration).
Frequency
Slightly more common in formal/academic writing in both varieties. No notable frequency disparity.
Grammar
How to Use “brevity” in a Sentence
Brevity of [noun phrase] (e.g., brevity of life)Brevity in [noun phrase/gerund] (e.g., brevity in reporting)Adjective + brevity (e.g., admirable brevity)Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Valued in executive summaries, reports, and emails to convey key points quickly (e.g., 'Please reply with brevity and clarity.')
Academic
A praised quality in abstracts, thesis statements, and scholarly writing to avoid unnecessary digression.
Everyday
Used to comment on a short speech, a quick visit, or a concise text message (e.g., 'I appreciated the brevity of his talk.')
Technical
In computing, can refer to code or data compression (e.g., 'The algorithm's brevity improves efficiency.')
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “brevity”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “brevity”
- Using it as an adjective (e.g., 'a brevity speech' is wrong; use 'brief').
- Confusing 'brevity' (quality) with 'brief' (short document or adjective).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Typically yes when referring to communication (concise, clear). It can be neutral or negative when referring to time (e.g., 'the brevity of life' implies sadness).
They are very close synonyms. 'Brevity' strongly emphasizes shortness in word count or time. 'Conciseness' emphasizes efficiency and completeness within that shortness.
Yes. It can describe anything of short duration (e.g., the brevity of summer, the brevity of a career highlight).
It is a noun. The related adjective is 'brief' and the adverb is 'briefly'.
Shortness of time or duration.
Brevity is usually formal, academic in register.
Brevity: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbrev.ə.ti/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbrev.ə.t̬i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Brevity is the soul of wit.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BREVet officer - a short, temporary rank. BREVity is about being short in time or words.
Conceptual Metaphor
LANGUAGE IS A CONTAINER / TIME IS A RESOURCE. Brevity implies a small, efficiently packed container of language or a sparing use of the resource of time.
Practice
Quiz
In which famous phrase does 'brevity' appear as a key component?