Laconism
/ˈlækəˌnɪzəm/noun
A style of speaking or writing that is brief and to the point.
Did you know?The word is tied to Lacedaemon, the ancient name for Sparta, whose warriors became legendary for answering with crushingly short replies—giving us the idea that fewer words can feel more dangerous than many.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
Λάκων (Lákōn)
“A Spartan; literally, a man from Laconia.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
Λακωνικός (Lakonikós)
“Spartan, of or like the Laconians; famously brief in speech.”
Late Latin
Latin
laconicus
“Laconic; terse; sparing in words.”
16th-17th Century
English
laconick / laconic
“Brief, concise, and Spartan in style.”
18th Century
English
laconism
“A laconic manner of speaking or writing.”
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