Meanings
alternative short-gevity
- 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 Handicap2 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 GerontologyThey'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
shortgevity. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/shortgevity
“shortgevity.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/shortgevity. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “shortgevity,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/shortgevity.
Source: shortgevity on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.