short-term

adjective

ˈshȯrt-ˌtərm 

1

: occurring over or involving a relatively short period of time

2

a

: of, relating to, or constituting a financial operation or obligation based on a brief term and especially one of less than a year

b

: generated by assets held for less than six months

Synonyms of short-term

• temporary
• interim

Examples of short-term in a Sentence

this is only a short-term solution to a long-term problem

Recent Examples on the Web

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin and his government were uninterested in such short-term solutions. — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 15 Oct. 2026

The city is currently weighing a temporary proposal to ease its short-term rental rules through the end of 2028 to accommodate tourists. — Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026

That's not the market's expectation, based on short-term Treasury yields, notes Draho. — Michelle Fox, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026

In part, this is a story about the short-term desperation of Republicans in the face of midterms that seem set to be disastrous. — Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1901, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for short-term

• affirm
• bookworm
• budworm
• confirm
• cutworm
• earthworm
• infirm
• midterm
• ringworm
• tapeworm
• wireworm
• angiosperm

Kids Definition

short-term

adjective

-ˈtərm

: short-range

short-term goals

Legal Definition

short term

noun

: short rate