short-term
Americanadjective
-
covering or applying to a relatively short period of time.
-
maturing over a relatively short period of time.
a short-term loan.
-
(of profit, loss, interest, etc.) of or relating to a short term, especially one year or less.
adjective
-
of, for, or extending over a limited period
-
finance extending over, maturing within, or required within a short period of time, usually twelve months
short-term credit
short-term capital
Etymology
Origin of short-term
First recorded in 1900–05
Explanation
Anything short-term doesn't last long. A short-term romance might be for a few weeks instead of a lifetime, and a short-term job won't provide you long-term security. The word term often applies to units of time, like a politician's term in office. This word has to do with time, but only small amounts of time: anything short-term occurs for a little while, and then it's over. A short-term illness goes away quickly, and a short-term problem won't weigh you down for long. The opposite of short-term is long-term, which refers to things happening for a greater period of time.
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.
In the short term, he is not sure what to do.
From BBC • Jun. 12, 2026
While the current hostilities could lift hesitance in the short term, common interests, and especially the profit opportunity, should keep these transits growing over time, he adds.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026
While short term injections from increased tourism can be seen in accommodations, dining and commercial sectors, the costs can still often outweigh the gains.
From Salon • Jun. 3, 2026
“In the short term, we are focused on robots to support skilled workers to build our future infrastructure; in the long term, we imagine everyone having a personal robot doing anything they need.”
From Barron's • Jun. 1, 2026
There was also something in it for them, at least in the short term.
From "Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West" by Blaine Harden
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.
