a word or group of words designating something, especially in a particular field, as atom in physics, quietism in theology, adze in carpentry, or district leader in politics.
any word or group of words considered as a member of a construction or utterance.
the time or period through which something lasts.
a period of time to which limits have been set.
elected for a term of four years.
one of two or more divisions of a school year, during which instruction is regularly provided.
an appointed or set time or date, as for the payment of rent, interest, wages, etc.
terms,
conditions with regard to payment, price, charge, rates, wages, etc..
reasonable terms.
conditions or stipulations limiting what is proposed to be granted or done.
the terms of a treaty.
footing or standing; relations.
on good terms with someone.
Obsolete. state, situation, or circumstances.
Algebra, Arithmetic.
each of the members of which an expression, a series of quantities, or the like, is composed, as one of two or more parts of an algebraic expression.
a mathematical expression of the form axp, axpyq, etc., where a, p, and q are numbers and x and y are variables.
Logic.
the subject or predicate of a categorical proposition.
the word or expression denoting the subject or predicate of a categorical proposition.
Also called terminus. a figure, especially of Terminus, in the form of a herm, used by the ancient Romans as a boundary marker; terminal figure.
Law.
an estate or interest in land or the like, to be enjoyed for a fixed period.
the duration of an estate.
each of the periods during which certain courts of law hold their sessions.
completion of pregnancy; parturition.
Archaic.
end, conclusion, or termination.
boundary or limit.
bring to terms, to force to agree to stated demands or conditions; bring into submission.
After a long struggle, we brought them to terms.
come to terms,
to reach an agreement; make an arrangement.
to come to terms with a creditor.
to become resigned or accustomed.
to come to terms with one's life.
eat one's terms, to study for the bar; be a law student.
in terms of, with regard to; concerning.
The book offers nothing in terms of a satisfactory conclusion.
terminal.
termination.
a name, expression, or word used for some particular thing, esp in a specialized field of knowledge
a medical term
any word or expression
a limited period of time
his second term of office
a prison term
any of the divisions of the academic year during which a school, college, etc, is in session
a point in time determined for an event or for the end of a period
Also called: full term. the period at which childbirth is imminent
law
an estate or interest in land limited to run for a specified period
a term of years
the duration of an estate, etc
(formerly) a period of time during which sessions of courts of law were held
time allowed to a debtor to settle
maths either of the expressions the ratio of which is a fraction or proportion, any of the separate elements of a sequence, or any of the individual addends of a polynomial or series
logic
the word or phrase that forms either the subject or predicate of a proposition
a name or variable, as opposed to a predicate
one of the relata of a relation
any of the three subjects or predicates occurring in a syllogism
Also called: terminal. terminus. terminal figure. architect a sculptured post, esp one in the form of an armless bust or an animal on the top of a square pillar
Australian rules football the usual word for quarter
archaic a boundary or limit
Each of the quantities or expressions that form the parts of a ratio or the numerator and denominator of a fraction.
Any of the quantities in an equation that are connected to other quantities by a plus sign or a minus sign.
What is a term? In algebra, a term is an individual number or variable or a combination of them, such as 7, x, or 5y. In a similar way, a term is also a word or a group of words, especially those that belong to a specific field. For example, modifier is a grammar term used to describe a word or phrase that limits or qualifies something else. A term can also be any word or phrase. We use term in these articles to describe the word or phrase we’re talking about (check out “Where does term come from?” below for an example). Its plural form, terms, can refer to a set of rules or conditions, such as the terms for repaying a loan or the terms for a truce. To term something is to name or designate something, as in Rainey termed her mother’s angry look the “Rainey Is in Trouble” look. Term can also do with time. Any period of time with a beginning and an end can be called a term. A division of a school year is often called a term, as is the period a politician serves in a specific office. A US president serves a term of four years and can only serve two terms, for example. Example: Always read the terms of service before signing on to a new service.
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English terme, from Old French, from Latin terminus “boundary, limit, end”; akin to Greek térmōn “limit”
A term is a word or expression used with a particular meaning. "Rap," "punk," "grunge," and "heavy metal" are terms that describe particular styles of music. "Sweetie" is a term of endearment, at least to most people. Terms can also mean the conditions of an agreement: when you rent an apartment, you agree to certain terms — that you'll pay the rent, you won't have loud parties, etc. If you're "on good terms with someone," you like each other. Term can also be a defined period of time. Spring term at school is the spring semester, and you may be assigned a term paper — to demonstrate how brilliant you've become during that time period.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
You know how you supposedly “can’t beat the market” over the long term?
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026
In order for customers to receive a payout, they must have enrolled in and paid for at least one renewal term of a YouTube TV subscription between Feb. 1, 2017, and Oct.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
A slang term for cash money is “dead presidents.”
From Salon ● Jul. 22, 2026
Still, Witkoff did not appear to be in Trump’s inner circle during his first term.
From Slate ● Jul. 22, 2026
In the short term, Johnson’s speech was a success.
From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin
Although Donald Trump has acknowledged being aware of the term “America First” and its historical context, he has nevertheless called it “a brand-new modern term. I never related it to the past.”
From Salon ● May 21, 2026
Industrial construction “costs less overall but costs more in the short term. Everything is frontloaded,” said Jan Lindenthal-Cox, chief investment officer at the San Francisco Housing Accelerator Fund.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 14, 2026
“I would say we’re really focused on the long term. Trust and safety bets can often involve short-term trade offs on the business side,” Roth said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2025
"The UK government requires the executive to publish - and then implement - a plan as to how it will 'stabilise' its finances over the medium term. Where is that plan?"
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2024
“You didn’t put in your best this term. You came second because you chose to.”
From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
The terms of our debate, weirdly accepted by each side, are flawed.
From Salon ● Jul. 22, 2026
In terms of longer-term trends Abouhossein argues that investment banking generally is transforming as a business model from a heavy emphasis on balance sheet and inventory, to something lighter and more geared to best-execution practices.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026
“I started to come to terms with it thanks to a very good doctor and a good therapist,” she told the North Carolina news station.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
He refused to allow Littler to pull away, though, and managed to haul himself back on terms at 7-7 only for the defending champion to reel off the next three legs.
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
“Have the terms of the curse been fulfilled?”
From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood
It’s not “human cockfighting,” as John McCain termed it in 1996 while pushing for a ban on the sport—preliminary research suggests that both football and boxing cause more brain damage than MMA.
From Slate ● Jun. 14, 2026
His strong voice and dark, brooding looks led to a wave what was termed at the time Bruelmania.
From BBC ● Jun. 10, 2026
Prosecutors had asked for a stiff sentence for what they termed a “massive fraud” that involved hundreds of thousands of victims.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 26, 2026
One commentator termed this stock melt-up the “bliss trade.”
From MarketWatch ● May 22, 2026
She was widowed, she was thirty-seven, and she was to become what he had termed an informal housekeeper.
From "I'm the King of the Castle" by Susan Hill
The district is the poorest the city, and the council race is expected to be one of the most competitive city contests this June, with the current council member, Curren Price, terming out.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 26, 2026
With Councilmember Curren Price terming out in District 9, six candidates are vying to represent parts of downtown and South L.A.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 14, 2026
She added that the pieces would soon be opened to the public for research and academic study, terming the move a milestone in safeguarding Ethiopia's cultural heritage.
From BBC ● Nov. 20, 2025
South Africa's Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber, who is from a different party to the president, announced the deal on Sunday, terming Ukraine a "valued ally".
From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2024
McKissick also defended the phrase, terming it an inevitable response to the “dashed hopes and mangled dreams of a people and a result of the ineffectiveness of the nonviolent movement.”
From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson
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.
