Is it *Jist or Gist? | Meaning & Correct Spelling

Gist is a noun meaning ‘essence’ or ‘main idea’. It’s always preceded by the definite article ‘the’ (you can’t say ‘a gist’). In legal contexts, gist is used to refer to the grounds of a legal action.

‘Jist’ is sometimes mistakenly used instead of gist. However, ‘jist’ is not a real word and should be avoided.

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Get the gist

Get the gist is an expression used to mean that someone understands the main point of something, even if they don’t get all the details. It’s almost always preceded by a pronoun indicating whom the expression refers to (e.g., ‘you get the gist’).

The expression is quite informal and should be avoided in contexts like academic writing.

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If you want to know more about commonly confused words, definitions, common mistakes, and differences between US and UK spellings, make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations, examples, and quizzes.

Frequently asked questions

What is a synonym for ‘gist’?

Some synonyms and near synonyms of gist include:

• Core
• Essence
• Quintessence
• Substance
• Summary
• Thrust

What does ‘gist’ mean?

Gist is a noun meaning ‘main point’ or ‘essence’. It’s always preceded by the definite article the and is used in expressions like ‘get the gist’ or ‘give me the gist’.

What does ‘the jist of it’ mean?

The gist of it is an expression meaning ‘the main point of it’. ‘The jist of it’ is sometimes mistakenly used instead of the gist of it, but it is a misspelling and should be avoided.