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

While Western private equity might flinch at short-term volatility, Gulf funds are designed to absorb shocks and hold conviction assets through disruption. —Winston Ma, semafor.com, 13 Apr. 2026

The result of so much short-term financial decision-making by city officials has dramatically boosted the cost of living in San Diego, the study said. —Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2026

In fact, beef prices could even rise in the short-term, offering Americans little relief at the grocery store as summer barbecue season heats up. —Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026

This will be a short-term effect, lasting around an hour on the daylit side of the Earth. —Ryan French, Space.com, 13 Apr. 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