long-term

long-term — adjective

1. describing something that lasts for a very long time, especially something whose

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

describing something that lasts for a very long time, especially something whose effects or influence will continue far into the future

Example

Renata is saving money every month for her long-term goal of opening a small bakery.

long-term + goal / plan / objective

The long-term effects of the new treatment are still being studied by medical researchers.

long-term + effects + of [noun phrase]

Common collocations
  • long-term goal
  • long-term plan
  • long-term strategy
  • long-term effect
  • long-term impact
  • long-term benefit
  • long-term relationship
  • long-term investment
  • long-term solution
  • long-term care
Synonyms
  • long-lasting

    more common for physical objects (e.g., a long-lasting battery); long-term is preferred for abstract concepts like plans or effects

  • extended

    suggests a period that has been lengthened beyond what is usual; often used for contracts, leave, or travel

  • prolonged

    often carries a negative connotation (prolonged illness, prolonged delay); long-term is neutral

Antonyms
  • short-term

    the direct opposite — covering a short period of time rather than a long one

  • temporary

    lasting only for a limited time, with no expectation of continuation

Grammar Patterns

long-term + noun

be + long-term

Usage Note

Frequently contrasted with 'short-term' to show a difference in time horizon. Common in contexts of planning, finance, health, environmental policy, and personal relationships. The hyphenated form ('long-term') is standard when the adjective appears before a noun; the open form ('long term') is common after the verb 'be'.

Common Mistakes

I need a long-term solution for this immediate problem.
I need a quick solution for this immediate problem.
'long-term' describes something that takes or lasts a long time, so it does not fit a situation that requires an immediate fix.
She wants a long-term relationship but only for the summer.
She wants a short-term relationship just for the summer.
A long-term relationship lasts a long time, so it contradicts a plan limited to a single season.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four describe something that continues for a significant amount of time, but they differ in tone and use. Long-term is neutral and broad — it fits planning, finance, health, and relationships. Long-lasting leans toward physical durability (a long-lasting material) and positive endurance (a long-lasting friendship). Prolonged often implies something has gone on longer than wanted or expected, giving it a slightly negative tone (prolonged silence, prolonged exposure). Extended simply means made longer than the standard length; it is factual rather than evaluative (an extended warranty, an extended holiday). Example: 'The couple took out a long-term mortgage and later bought an extended warranty on the house, but the prolonged legal process of buying the property nearly made them give up.'

long-term ↗long-lasting ↗prolongedextended ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • over the long term
  • in the long term
  • for the long term
  • on a long-term basis

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishOld FrenchLatinEnglish

The adjective 'long-term' is a compound of 'long' (from Old English 'lang', meaning 'great in extent') and 'term' (from Old French 'terme', from Latin 'terminus' meaning 'boundary, end, limit'). The two words were first combined into a hyphenated adjective in the late 19th century, initially in financial and legal writing to describe loans or contracts that ran over many years. By the mid-20th century, the term had spread into general use across business, politics, and everyday life.