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.

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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

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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

But he may need that if he has an unexpected medical emergency and needs rehab or, worse, long-term care.

From MarketWatch • May 5, 2026

Thanks for asking about leveraged ETFs — these are very interesting tools, but also very risky, especially given your current portfolio and long-term growth goals.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 5, 2026

At the current price of $84.80, the long-term Treasury fund is approaching $83.30, its lowest point over the past year.

From Barron's • May 4, 2026

Her statement went on: "We want to work with government to establish a permanent long-term plan that will deliver permanently lower bills, a fairer system and ultimately protect this treasured sector."

From BBC • May 4, 2026

Control room operators at Daiichi were wearing full gear, but the airtight radiation suits weren’t made for long-term use.

From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland

Related Words

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