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.
Joy Wiltermuth and Greg Robb outlined what the Treasury might do to mitigate upward pressure on long-term bond yields.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 30, 2026
The loose fiscal stance expected during Lula’s fourth term might lead to a further increase in long-term inflation expectations, Pan said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026
As a whole, England has had 111% of it's long-term monthly rainfall, according to the EA.
From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026
Receiver Puka Nacua, 25, said that as a young player he was grateful for information about the possible long-term effects.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2026
Bobby always felt comfortable with both, and at one point when Regina was about to embark on one of her perennial long-term journeys, she suggested that Bobby live with the Collinses.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
