Short list or shortlist?
short list is a noun meaning “A list of candidates selected from a longer list, and from which one or more…”; shortlist is a noun meaning “Alternative form of short list”. short list is written as two words and shortlist as one word; they are used differently.
What is the difference between short list and shortlist?
| short list | shortlist | |
|---|---|---|
| Part of speech | noun, verb | noun, verb |
| Meaning | A list of candidates selected from a longer list, and from which one or more successful candidates are in turn selected A list of the highest-ranked (most important) items from a longer list | To place something on a short list |
| Example | none recorded | none recorded |
| Forms | short-lists | shortlists |
| Pronunciation | not recorded | not recorded |
| In writing | not counted (the list counts single words) | 1.2 times per million words |
Sources: short list and shortlist in the English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0); written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
Every current meaning of short list and shortlist
short list
- 1
A list of candidates selected from a longer list, and from which one or more successful candidates are in turn selected
- 2
Alternative spelling of short list
- 3
Alternative spelling of shortlist
- 4
A list of the highest-ranked (most important) items from a longer list
- 5
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see short, list
shortlist
- 1
Alternative form of short list
- 2
To place something on a short list
Source: the English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0); obsolete, archaic, dialect and rare senses left out.
Which is more common, short list or shortlist?
short list is a phrase, which the list of single words does not count; shortlist 1.2 times per million words.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).