short-term
Americanadjective
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covering or applying to a relatively short period of time.
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maturing over a relatively short period of time.
a short-term loan.
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(of profit, loss, interest, etc.) of or relating to a short term, especially one year or less.
adjective
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of, for, or extending over a limited period
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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.
Where once they promised short-term pain for long-term gain, do they now offer instant satisfaction that is almost always undelivered?
From BBC • May 16, 2026
“The level of participation we’re seeing suggests investors increasingly view semiconductors as a long-term structural theme rather than a short-term trade.”
From Barron's • May 15, 2026
In the meantime, Linville proposes short-term federal payments to farmers to help them survive the year, though he is “not a big fan” of the practice.
From Salon • May 15, 2026
That’s because the 2-year Treasury yield usually doesn’t sit above the Fed’s short-term target range, a rate that influences overall borrowing conditions.
From MarketWatch • May 14, 2026
I just have to write the truck off as a short-term loss leader, because when it comes down to it, I’m no longer in a position to negotiate.
From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
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.
