long-term
Americanadjective
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covering a relatively long period of time.
a long-term lease.
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maturing over or after a relatively long period of time.
a long-term loan; a long-term bond.
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(of a capital gain or loss) derived from the sale or exchange of an asset held for more than a specified time, as six months or one year.
adjective
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lasting, staying, or extending over a long time
long-term prospects
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finance maturing after a long period of time
a long-term bond
Etymology
Origin of long-term
First recorded in 1905–10
Explanation
Something that's long-term has lasted for quite a while. If you have a long-term girlfriend, she's been in your life for years. Use the adjective long-term to describe things that are so enduring that they're nearly permanent. Someone who's a long-term resident of Canada has lived there for a very long time, and news of long-term unemployment is discouraging because it means people have been out of work for months and months. Long-term was originally a word describing only insurance policies, in the 1870's.
Vocabulary lists containing long-term
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.
SEC Chairman Paul Atkins and President Donald Trump had said for months that such a move was coming, describing it as a way for companies to save money and focus on their long-term trajectory.
From Barron's • May 5, 2026
On Earth, silicate-rich crusts form through long-term processes involving tectonic activity and often require water.
From Science Daily • May 5, 2026
“For years, we have emphasized the downstream effects the workforce crisis in long-term care has on the greater healthcare ecosystem,” said spokesperson Rachel Reeves in a statement.
From MarketWatch • May 5, 2026
The breakaway league also announced this week it has retained Ducera Partners LLC as its investment banking advisor to help secure long-term investment partners.
From BBC • May 5, 2026
The key to terra preta s long-term fertility, Glaser says, is charcoal: terra preta contains up to sixty-four times more of it than surrounding red earth.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
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.
