curt

Curt describes speech or behavior that is brief to the point of rudeness. A curt reply is one delivered in few words and without courtesy — a clipped 'no,' a shrug instead of an explanation, an answer cut off before it begins. The word entered English in the early seventeenth century from Latin curtus, meaning 'short' or 'cut off,' making it etymologically kin to 'curtail.' Because brevity alone can be a virtue, what sets curt apart is its implication of discourtesy or impatience: the speaker's terseness reads as a rebuff rather than efficiency. It typically appears in descriptions of interpersonal exchanges — a curt nod, a curt dismissal, a curt email — and almost always signals tension, irritation, or social distance. Writers reach for it when they want to convey a character's brusqueness economically; readers should register it as a mild but pointed criticism of someone's manner.

Rudely brief in speech or manner; using so few words as to seem impolite or dismissive.

Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.

Etymology of curt

Curt derives from the Latin adjective curtus, meaning 'shortened, mutilated, or cut short,' which itself may trace back to the Indo-European root *(s)ker-, 'to cut.' English adopted the word directly from Latin in the early seventeenth century, initially carrying the sense of shortened or abbreviated. It later settled into its modern meaning of rudely brief. The same Latin root produced 'curtail' and the rare 'curtate,' all sharing the idea of something being cut down.

Related word forms

How curt is actually used

Curt carries a distinctly negative connotation of coldness or impatience; it implies not just brevity but a lack of warmth or courtesy. It is more common in informal and narrative contexts than in formal writing.

Easily confused with curt

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Words and phrases paired with curt

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Rhymes with curt