laconic | Definition & Meaning for the SAT
⚡️ LACONIC most nearly means: (A) emotionally detached; (B) brief; (C) sarcastic; (D) incomprehensible. 👉 Answer + examples, pronunciation, and full SAT explanation inside.
ℹ️ Part of speech of laconic
laconic is an ADJECTIVE.
🗣️ Pronunciation of laconic
laconic is pronounced /lə.ˈkɑn.ɪk/ or luh-KAHN-ik.
📚️ Definition of laconic
Using very few words; expressing much in few words; brief and to the point. Example: a laconic reply to a long-winded question.
📰 Examples
Here are some examples of laconic in usage:
When asked about his secret to success, the billionaire gave a laconic response: "Luck."
Gramps is usually laconic in conversation, but he can get downright garrulous when he's explaining how to use his tools.
There's a well-known anecdote that says when Philip II of Macedon sent a message to Sparta (an area in Laconia) saying, "If I invade Laconia, you will be destroyed." The Spartans responded with a single word: "αἴκα", which means "if".
✅ Quiz answer
Answer to the question above:
B, brief. Explanations: A is incorrect; emotionally detached would be more like aloof or indifferent. C is wrong; sarcastic refers to tone, not word count. D doesn't fit at all; incomprehensible means impossible to understand, which has nothing to do with being concise.