short-term

American  

[shawrt-turm] / ˈʃɔrtˈtɜrm /

adjective

1. covering or applying to a relatively short period of time.

2. maturing over a relatively short period of time.

   a short-term loan.

3. (of profit, loss, interest, etc.) of or relating to a short term, especially one year or less.

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short-term British  

adjective

1. of, for, or extending over a limited period

2. finance extending over, maturing within, or required within a short period of time, usually twelve months

   short-term credit

   short-term capital

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Etymology

Origin of short-term

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

While many companies can weather a short-term spike, he added, “If U.S. gas prices haven’t come down by May or June, then I think we’re going to be in a little bit more trouble.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

Georgieva said the IMF was poised to lower that growth forecast and sees higher short-term inflation due to infrastructure damage, supply disruptions, losses of confidence, and other scarring effects from the war in Iran.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

A liability-sensitive bank will benefit quickly from a decline in short-term rates, as its cost of funds declines more rapidly than its loans mature and are renewed at lower rates.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

The original legislation would have taxed both vacant residences and short-term rentals, but the measure was amended to apply only to vacant residences.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

Lawrence remained defensive about the oversight as late as 1940, when he rationalized it as the consequence of the Rad Lab’s singular devotion to improving the cyclotron at the expense of unimportant short-term discoveries.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Related Words

• interim
• limited
• momentary