Excerpt: meaning, definitions and examples

📜

Add to dictionary

excerpt

[ ˈɛksɜːrpt ]

^{Context #1}

literature

A short extract from a film, broadcast, or piece of music or writing.

Synonyms

extract, passage, quotation

Examples of usage

Can you read me an excerpt from the latest bestseller?
She performed an excerpt from the famous play at the event.

^{Context #2}

legal

A short extract from a document or record.

Synonyms

citation, extract, quotation

Examples of usage

The lawyer presented an excerpt from the contract as evidence.
The judge requested an excerpt from the official report.

^{Context #3}

writing

To take a short extract from a text.

Synonyms

cite, extract, quote

Examples of usage

The author decided to excerpt a paragraph from his previous book.
I will excerpt some key points from the article for my presentation.

Translations

Translations of the word "excerpt" in other languages:

🇵🇹 excerto

🇮🇳 अंश

🇩🇪 Auszug

🇮🇩 kutipan

🇺🇦 уривок

🇵🇱 fragment

🇯🇵 抜粋 (ばっすい)

🇫🇷 extrait

🇪🇸 extracto

🇹🇷 alıntı

🇰🇷 발췌

🇸🇦 مقتطف

🇨🇿 výňatek

🇸🇰 výňatok

🇨🇳 摘录 (zhāilù)

🇸🇮 izvleček

🇮🇸 útdráttur

🇰🇿 үзінді

🇬🇪 ამონაწერი

🇦🇿 ixtisar

🇲🇽 extracto

Word origin

The word 'excerpt' originated from the Latin word 'excerptus', which means 'picked out'. The term has been used in English since the late 16th century to refer to a short extract or passage taken from a larger work. Over time, 'excerpt' has become a common term in literature, journalism, legal documents, and other fields to indicate a brief selection from a text or document.