1
: occurring over or involving a relatively long period of time
seeking long-term solutions
2
a
: of, relating to, or constituting a financial operation or obligation based on a considerable term and especially one of more than 10 years
long-term bonds
b
: generated by assets held for longer than six months
a long-term capital gain

Examples of long-term in a Sentence

before approving a new drug, the government insists on some long-term research to determine any possible side effects
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The state's disaster service worker program provides short- and long-term disability to injured volunteers. N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 3 May 2025 That’s a transfer of $1.45 billion from the AL East to the NL West in long-term financial obligations via either trades or free-agent signings. Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 2 May 2025 Individual contracts can be selected prior to dropping into a match, and are the game’s primary form of long-term progression, allowing for permanent upgrades that make each run a little more meaningful. Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 2 May 2025 The long-term late-night hosts are now, and have always been, dudes. Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for long-term

Word History

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of long-term was in 1867

Cite this Entry

“Long-term.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/long-term. Accessed 5 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

long-term

adjective
-ˈtərm
: extending over or involving a long period of time
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!