long-form

American  

[lawng-fawrm, long‐] / ˈlɔŋˌfɔrm, ˈlɒŋ‐ /

Or longform

adjective

1. noting or relating to journalistic content or a genre of journalism characterized by stories or essays that are several thousand words long, typically combining factual reporting with a narrative and empathetic style.

   A long-form article can illuminate and humanize your subject.

2. noting or relating to other types of print or visual media content characterized by in-depth, lengthy narratives.

   a long-form TV drama whose story unfolds over ten episodes; long-form comics and graphic novels.

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noun

1. journalistic or other media content so characterized.

   I've started writing more long-form on my blog.

Etymology

Origin of long-form

long ¹ ( def. ) + form ( def. )

Compare meaning

How does long-form compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• short-form vs. long-form

Example Sentences

She works on breaking news features, video investigations and long-form documentaries.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 8, 2026

Hannity said he signed on because he enjoyed doing a long-form interview program for the subscription streaming service Fox Nation, which included lengthy chats with Sylvester Stallone and Stephen A. Smith.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 17, 2026

Headquarters retains the millions of followers accumulated during her 2024 presidential campaign and plans to expand to YouTube and Substack, developing long-form video content alongside rapid-response social media posts.

From Salon • Feb. 7, 2026

"I will be sitting in this seat by 2027 and if this long-form interview works, we can try it again in January of next year as well."

From BBC • Jan. 4, 2026

In some instances, no short-form name exists - then the long-form name must serve for all usages.

From The 1992 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency