long-term

American  

[lawng-turm, long-] / ˈlɔŋˌtɜrm, ˈlɒŋ- /

adjective

1. covering a relatively long period of time.

   a long-term lease.

2. maturing over or after a relatively long period of time.

   a long-term loan; a long-term bond.

3. (of a capital gain or loss) derived from the sale or exchange of an asset held for more than a specified time, as six months or one year.

---

long-term British  

adjective

1. lasting, staying, or extending over a long time

   long-term prospects

2. finance maturing after a long period of time

   a long-term bond

---

Etymology

Origin of long-term

First recorded in 1905–10

Explanation

Something that's long-term has lasted for quite a while. If you have a long-term girlfriend, she's been in your life for years. Use the adjective long-term to describe things that are so enduring that they're nearly permanent. Someone who's a long-term resident of Canada has lived there for a very long time, and news of long-term unemployment is discouraging because it means people have been out of work for months and months. Long-term was originally a word describing only insurance policies, in the 1870's.

Example Sentences

The early melt fits a long-term pattern as greenhouse gases push temperatures higher.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026

We manage long-term money, so we have the ability to look out far on the horizon.

From Barron's • Apr. 16, 2026

Clearwater looks to provide long-term, fixed-rate capital for C-PACE improvements on properties across 40 states and the District of Columbia.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

"The project is guided by a long-term vision and a strategic plan that combines ambition, sustainability, and a strong connection to its local roots."

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

Imagining life, sometimes ridiculously, lived long-term in one place.

From "Book Scavenger" by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

Related Words

• abiding
• continuing
• deep-rooted
• durable
• eternal
• everlasting
• indelible
• lifelong
• permanent
• stable