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

Examples of short-term in a Sentence

this is only a short-term solution to a long-term problem
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Wiggins, 29, flew back from Detroit to the Bay Area earlier this week, missing Golden State’s back-to-back for personal reasons Steve Kerr said would be short-term. Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2025 Matt eventually opted to turn the property into a short-term vacation rental, which was shown on the show. Escher Walcott, People.com, 12 Jan. 2025 While many bitcoin and crypto traders are nervously eyeing the short-term outlook for the bitcoin price and crypto market, others are confident a downturn will be short-lived. Billy Bambrough, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025 While the four-time All-Star is only open to signing a short-term deal to remain in Queens, Just Baseball's Ryan Finkelstein thinks Alonso and the Mets meet in the middle to get something done. Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 11 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for short-term 

Word History

First Known Use

1901, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of short-term was in 1901

Dictionary Entries Near short-term

Cite this Entry

“Short-term.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/short-term. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

short-term

adjective
-ˈtərm
: short-range
short-term goals

Legal Definition

short term

noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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