What does concision mean?
Concision is the quality of expressing oneself clearly and completely in as few words as possible. It describes writing or speech that is brief yet substantive — economical without sacrificing meaning. The term appears most often in discussions of prose, journalism, editing, and rhetoric, where it names one of the highest virtues of good style. A writer praised for concision has mastered the discipline of cutting whatever does not serve the argument, so that every sentence carries weight. Unlike mere brevity, which can leave out essential material, concision implies a careful balance: nothing important is missing, yet nothing superfluous remains. The word derives from Latin 'concisionem', related to 'concise', which comes from roots meaning 'to cut short'. Its antonyms include verbosity, prolixity, and long-windedness. Because it is formal and slightly literary, concision suits critical essays and reviews better than casual conversation, where speakers are more likely to say that someone 'keeps it short' or 'gets to the point.'
nounThe quality of expressing something in few words while retaining full meaning; conciseness or terseness of expression.
- Conciseness; brevity and clarity of expression, especially in speech or writing.
"Her essay was admired for its concision — every sentence earned its place."
"Lincoln's Gettysburg Address is a masterclass in concision, delivering profound ideas in under three minutes."
"Good editors prize concision, cutting every word that fails to earn its keep."
Rarely used in the plural; the word is almost always treated as an uncountable quality noun.
"The anthology collects the great concisions of twentieth-century journalism."
The word for saying things in fewer words is itself three syllables shorter than its cousin 'conciseness' — a rare case of a word practicing what it preaches.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of concision
Concision entered English in the early 17th century, borrowed from Latin 'concisionem', a noun of action from 'concidere', meaning 'to cut up or cut short', formed from 'com-' (an intensive prefix) and 'caedere' ('to cut'). It thus shares its root with 'concise' and with words like 'precise', 'incisive', and 'decide', all descendants of the cutting verb 'caedere'. In English it first carried senses relating to cutting or division before settling into its modern sense of verbal brevity.
Related word forms
How concision is actually used
A formal, somewhat literary word, more common in criticism and discussion of writing style than in everyday conversation. It is essentially interchangeable with 'conciseness', though some writers prefer it precisely because it is shorter. It carries an unambiguously positive connotation, implying economy without loss of substance.