long-term
Americanadjective
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covering a relatively long period of time.
a long-term lease.
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maturing over or after a relatively long period of time.
a long-term loan; a long-term bond.
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(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.
adjective
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lasting, staying, or extending over a long time
long-term prospects
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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.
Vocabulary lists containing long-term
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
North Lincolnshire Council leader councillor Rob Waltham said it was "significantly important" for Scunthorpe and the surrounding area but said more still needed to be done to secure its long-term future.
From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026
Lime, with one long-term shareholder, George M. Doumet, controlling a stake of more than 60% through Inberdon Enterprises, as verified by FactSet.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026
He adds that long-term and experimental research will be essential for determining whether animals are simply becoming accustomed to human activity or experiencing deeper evolutionary changes.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 15, 2026
Sustained draws of around 2 million barrels a day would run against Beijing’s long-term goal of maintaining strategic and commercial reserves, Goldman analysts said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026
Its most infamous occupant, and the most long-term.
From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
