Voltage Current and Circuit
Practically, "short circuit" means that the impedance or resistance between two points is very low. Generally it implies that the two points are not connected together by design. The connection is due to some sort of fault, or may have been done deliberately for test purposes.

Open circuit means that the impedance or resistance between two points is very high. There is no conductive path between the two points. Sometimes an open circuit is not the result of a fault. I mean, the implication of fault is weaker with "open circuit" than it is with "short circuit."