short-termism

short-termism — noun

1. the practice of making decisions based on what is immediately profitable or bene

1.nounC1
Definition

the practice of making decisions based on what is immediately profitable or beneficial, without thinking about the long-term problems or costs that may result.

Example

The city council's short-termism led them to cut funding for public libraries.

possessive noun + short-termism as subject

Short-termism in the fashion industry has caused serious environmental damage across many countries.

short-termism + in + [domain/industry]

Common collocations
  • corporate short-termism
  • accuse of short-termism
  • criticize short-termism
  • short-termism + in + [domain]
  • the culture of short-termism
  • short-termism + leads to / causes / prevents
Synonyms
  • short-sightedness

    more common in everyday speech; less technical than short-termism

  • myopia

    formal and often used in academic or business writing; implies a failure to see the bigger picture

  • impatience

    broader in meaning; focuses on the desire for quick results rather than a systematic planning flaw

Antonyms
  • long-termism

    the direct opposite; prioritising future outcomes over immediate gains

  • foresight

    positive connotation; the ability to plan wisely for the future

Grammar Patterns

short-termism + in + [domain/industry/field]

short-termism + of + [institution]

accuse of short-termism

criticize short-termism

Usage Note

This uncountable noun is typically used in formal criticism of business, political, or institutional decision-making. It often appears with the prepositions 'in' (e.g. short-termism in government) or 'of' (e.g. the short-termism of the administration). The opposite concept is long-termism.

Common Mistakes

Short-termism is a common problem in many companys.
Short-termism is a common problem in many companies.
'company' has an irregular plural form ('companies'), not 'companys'.
The company has a short-termism strategy.
The company has a short-term strategy.
'short-termism' is a noun, not an adjective. Use 'short-term' as the adjective form.

Word family

  • short-term
    adjectiveB1
  • short-sighted
    adjectiveB2
  • short-sightedness
    nounB2
  • long-termism
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Short-termism, short-sightedness, and myopia all describe a failure to consider the future, but they differ in formality and scope. Short-termism is the most specific term: it refers to a deliberate or systemic focus on immediate profits or benefits, often in business or policy decisions. Short-sightedness is broader and more common in everyday language — it can describe any lack of long-term planning, from personal finances to government strategy. Myopia is a formal synonym borrowed from the medical term for nearsightedness; it appears in academic and critical writing about institutional failures ('corporate myopia'). Impatience is the least precise of the four — it describes a personal desire for quick results rather than a structural flaw in planning. For example: 'The board's short-termism led to underinvestment in research,' whereas 'His impatience made him switch jobs every year.'

short-sightednessmyopiaimpatience

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • a culture of short-termism
  • an accusation of short-termism
  • short-termism in government

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishOld FrenchLatinGreekEnglish

The word 'short-termism' was formed by combining the adjective 'short-term' (describing a brief time horizon) with the suffix '-ism' (which forms nouns indicating a practice, system, or ideology). It emerged in the late 20th century, particularly in business and economic writing, as a label for decision-making that prioritises immediate results at the expense of future stability. The root 'short' comes from Old English 'sceort', 'term' from Old French 'terme' (via Latin 'terminus' meaning boundary or limit), and '-ism' from Greek '-ismos' via Latin and French.