long-term

Language: en

🇬🇧 /ˈlɒŋtɜːm/ 🇺🇸 /ˈlɔˈŋtɜrm/

📖 Definitions

  1. adjective
    Extending over a long period of time; lasting for a considerable duration into the future.; Relating to or involving a commitment, relationship, or arrangement that is intended to last for an extended period.; In finance, referring to investments, debts, or obligations with a maturity or duration exceeding one year.; In medicine, referring to a condition, treatment, or effect that persists or is expected to persist over an extended period.; In memory studies, relating to the retention of information over extended periods, as opposed to short-term or working memory.
  2. adverb
    Over or for a long period of time; in the distant future.

🔗 Details

Word forms

Comparative: longer-term Superlative: longest-term

Collocations

long-term goallong-term planlong-term effectlong-term relationshiplong-term memorylong-term investmentin the long term

Derivatives

long-termismlong-termer

Synonyms

lastingenduringprolongedsustainedextendedpermanent

Antonyms

short-termtemporarybrieftransient

Commonly confused

longtime
EN: 'Longtime' describes something that has existed for a long time (a longtime friend); 'long-term' refers to something extending over a long period, often into the future (a long-term plan).
long term
EN: 'Long term' (no hyphen) is used as a noun phrase ('in the long term'); 'long-term' (hyphenated) is the adjectival form used before a noun ('long-term strategy').

Spelling tips

EN: Hyphenate 'long-term' when used as an adjective before a noun (e.g., 'a long-term goal'), but write it as two words without a hyphen when used as a noun phrase (e.g., 'in the long term').

💬 Examples

  1. The company developed a long-term strategy to increase its market share over the next decade.

  2. They entered into a long-term partnership with a local supplier.

  3. She preferred long-term bonds because they offered higher yields than short-term securities.

  4. The patient required long-term medication to manage his chronic condition.

  5. Repeated practice helps transfer information from short-term to long-term memory.

  6. Long-term, the effects of climate change will be felt across every continent.