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

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

Appeared in the February 26, 2026, print edition as 'Random Short-Term Rentals'.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 25, 2026

That is the finding of a new research study, “Conflicting News, Negativity Bias, and Short-Term Return Predictability.”

From MarketWatch • Dec. 24, 2025

Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond sticks with short-term debt, posing less risk if interest rates move up again.

From Barron's • Dec. 12, 2025

At that time, every sketch started with, "And now another episode of Short-Term Memory Man."

From Salon • Nov. 29, 2023

The Baird Short-Term Bond fund gained 4.7 percent.

From New York Times • Jan. 17, 2020

Related Words

• interim
• limited
• momentary