Definition of the word shortlist

The origin of the word "shortlist" can be traced back to the mid-20th century, when it first appeared in British business and financial contexts. It is a combination of the words "short" and "list," both of which have origins in Old English. The Old English word "scort" referred to something that was cut or separated, which evolved into the Middle English word "scort" meaning a small quantity or a selection. This word passed through Old French as "court" and entered Middle English again as "cort," where it eventually evolved into the modern English word "short." The word "list" also has roots in Old English, specifically the word "hlist," which meant a written record or register. This word evolved into the Middle English "liste," which referred to a list or record of some kind. Combining these two words in the 1950s, business and financial professionals created a new term to describe a preliminary list of potential candidates or options, which was then further narrowed down or "shortened" into a final decision. Shortlist was quickly adopted in other industries, and it is now widely used in a variety of contexts around the world, from job interviews to product selection to award nominations.