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

In some cases, this led to short-term sacrifices, but leadership accepted these trade-offs to build consumer trust. —Serenity Gibbons, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026

For weeks, Democrats withheld their votes from a short-term funding measure to reopen the government without a deal to extend expiring health insurance subsidies. —Sam Gringlas, NPR, 26 Jan. 2026

This is a long term more than a short-term play. —Brian Sullivan, CNBC, 25 Jan. 2026

Much of the government, including the Department of Defense, continues to operate on a short-term bill that provides funding only through Friday. —Kevin Freking, Chicago Tribune, 25 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1901, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for short-term

• affirm
• bookworm
• confirm
• cutworm
• earthworm
• infirm
• midterm
• tapeworm
• wireworm
• angiosperm
• echinoderm
• berm

Kids Definition

short-term

adjective

-ˈtərm

: short-range

short-term goals

Legal Definition

short term

noun

: short rate