What does abridgement mean?
An abridgement is a shortened version of a longer work — typically a book — created by omitting passages judged non-essential while preserving the core content and meaning. Abridgements are common in publishing, where lengthy classics are condensed for younger readers, busy audiences, or school curricula, and the term also extends to any act of curtailment, most notably in legal contexts where it describes the diminishment of rights or freedoms, as in 'an abridgement of free speech'. The noun derives from the verb 'to abridge', meaning to shorten or condense. Both 'abridgement' and the shorter spelling 'abridgment' are correct, with the latter favoured in American legal usage. The word sits comfortably in formal register and pairs naturally with terms like 'unabridged' and 'condensed'. Knowing it helps readers navigate editions of classic works and understand discussions of textual editing and civil liberties alike.
nounA shortened or condensed version of a written work, in which less essential material has been omitted while the substance is retained. More broadly, the act of reducing something, such as rights or privileges, to a smaller or lesser form.
- A condensed version of a book or other text, produced by omitting passages while retaining its substance.
- The act or process of abridging; reduction or diminution, especially of rights, freedoms, or privileges (as in legal usage).
"The abridgement of the novel cut nearly two hundred pages while preserving the central plot."
"She read an abridgement of War and Peace for her book club before tackling the full novel."
"The court ruled that the new law constituted an unlawful abridgement of free speech."
The plural follows standard noun formation; note that the alternative spelling 'abridgment' pluralizes as 'abridgments'.
"The library holds several nineteenth-century abridgements of famous travel narratives."
The word 'abridgement' itself was once shortened: British spelling increasingly favours 'abridgment', a form that drops the 'e' — proof that even words about cutting things down get trimmed.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of abridgement
Abridgement comes from the verb 'abridge', which entered English from Old French 'abregier', ultimately rooted in Latin 'brevis', meaning 'short'. The suffix '-ment' marks it as a noun denoting the result or process of the action. Its cognates include 'brief', 'brevity', and 'abbreviate', all descending from the same Latin root. The word has been part of English since at least the late Middle Ages, when abridged versions of romances and chronicles were widely circulated.
Related word forms
How abridgement is actually used
Both spellings — 'abridgement' and 'abridgment' (without the middle 'e') — are accepted; the shorter form is more common in American legal writing, while 'abridgement' remains standard in general and literary contexts. The word carries a neutral register but appears frequently in publishing and legal language.
Easily confused with abridgement
An abbreviation shortens a word or phrase (e.g. 'Dr.' for 'Doctor'), whereas an abridgement condenses a whole work or text by omitting parts.