Aphorism
noun /ˈaf(ə)rɪz(ə)m/ — A short, pithy statement that contains a general truth.
Definition
A concise saying that expresses a general truth — more studied than a proverb, more precise than a maxim, compressed enough that it rewards re-reading; a sentence containing a complete thought.
Beyond the definition
The aphorism is the sentence that refuses to be paraphrased — it says what it says and cannot be said better. La Rochefoucauld, Nietzsche, Wittgenstein, Oscar Wilde — great aphorists know that truth under compression sometimes becomes visible that it is not in full sentences.
Origin & history
From Greek aphorismos (definition, concise expression), from aphorizein (to mark off, define), from apo- (from) + horizein (to bound, limit). A thought marked off — bounded, complete, entire.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Wilde's aphorisms are still quoted because they are still true — and still funny.
She had a gift for aphorism — distilling a long experience into a single sentence that was immediately obviously right.
Not every striking sentence is an aphorism — it needs to be both concise and genuinely true.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Aphorism” when the meaning fits your context: A concise saying that expresses a general truth — more studied than a proverb, more precise than a maxim, compressed enough that it rewards re-reading; a sentence containing a complete thought.
Synonyms
Antonyms
essay, elaboration, circumlocution
Related words
Aphorism vs axiom
An aphorism is a clever, witty observation about life. An axiom is a foundational, logical statement or principle that is accepted as true without the need for proof.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Distilled Truth in Symbols
An archaeologist examines a tablet with repeated geometric shapes, searching for the meaning contained within these concise, ancient patterns.
Just as an aphorism condenses deep truth into minimal language, the tablet uses sparse geometric forms to convey significant meaning, requiring slow study to grasp the full essence of the original thought contained therein.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Aphorism" mean?
Aphorism is noun meaning: A short, pithy statement that contains a general truth.. A concise saying that expresses a general truth — more studied than a proverb, more precise than a maxim, compressed enough that it rewards re-reading; a sentence containing a complete thought.
Where does the word "Aphorism" come from?
From Greek aphorismos (definition, concise expression), from aphorizein (to mark off, define), from apo- (from) + horizein (to bound, limit). A thought marked off — bounded, complete, entire.