variants or less commonly decadelong
: lasting or occurring over a decade or about a decade
A decade-long drought in Saskatchewan and Alberta nesting areas has cut sharply into the number of birds migrating into Idaho …Dan Knauss
The renegade gene that causes Huntington's disease has been found after a decade-long search …Daniel Q. Haney

Examples of decade-long in a Sentence

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.
After a decade-long gap, the Diane von Furstenberg line returned to New York Fashion Week with Zankov unveiling his first collection as artistic director for the brand. ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026 With megawatt charging, standard modularity, and heavy haulage range finally in place, that decade-long shift looks less like a distant goal and more like an active rollout. Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2026 Rybakina has made major strides in her decade-long career as a tennis pro. Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1974, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of decade-long was in 1974

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Decade-long.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decade-long. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

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