shortgevity

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UK/ˌʃɔːtˈd͡ʒɛ.vɪ.ti/US/ˌʃɔɹtˈd͡ʒɛ.vɪ.ti/

noun

The state or condition of lasting for only a short period of time, in contrast to longevity.

Scrabble 21

Meanings

nounshortgevity (uncountable)

alternative short-gevity

  1. humorousoftenuncountableThe state or condition of lasting for only a short period of time, in contrast to longevity.

    I did not discuss the prognosis with Dr. Glass, nor did I ask him any questions about my probable longevity — or shortgevity.

    1993, Garrett Oppenheim, Gwen Oppenheim, The Golden Handicap
    2 more examples

    Not all nations are in a position to benefit from longevity, and in fact, a significant number suffer from its opposite—shortgevity.

    2010, Howard M. Fillit, Kenneth Rockwood, Kenneth Woodhouse, Brocklehurst's Textbook of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology

    They'd have had him if he changed his ways, but Foster's conversions were famous for their short-gevity. Keith was proud of that word. He had made it up himself. Short-gevity was his opposite for longevity. It was an original Sylvester antonym.

    2015, Leo Brett, Patricia Fanthorpe, Lionel Fanthorpe, Supernatural Stories featuring The Frozen Tomb

Origin

Blend of short + longevity. Or more precisely, from short + -gevity, a back-formation from longevity, specifically in the spoken form /lɒŋˈdʒɛvɪti/.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

shortgevity. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/shortgevity

MLA

“shortgevity.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/shortgevity. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “shortgevity,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/shortgevity.

Source: shortgevity on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.