short list

noun

: a limited list of important items or individuals
especially : a list of candidates for final consideration (as for a position or a prize)
short-list
ˈshȯrt-ˌlist How to pronounce short list (audio)
transitive verb

Examples of short list in a Sentence

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.
There's a little more at stake for a short list of players — Scheffler, Fitzpatrick, Young, perhaps even McIlroy. — ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026 Pediatricians and public health experts say the same short list of practices does most of the work. — Ashley Lynch, Kansas City Star, 18 Aug. 2026 LinkedIn reported that recruiters using its AI Hiring Assistant review 62% fewer profiles when building candidate short lists. — Tammy Homegardner, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 Both parties are expected to pour hundreds of millions of dollars into a relatively short list of races over the next three months. — Fin Daniel Gómez, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for short list

Word History

First Known Use

1927, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of short list was in 1927

Rhymes for short list

See All Rhymes for short list

Browse Nearby Words

short line
short list
short-lived
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Short list.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/short%20list. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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