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.
Despite the initial success, Jorgenson remains focused on long-term growth over short-term wins. Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024 Diversifying Property Types Diversifying across residential, commercial and short-term rental properties can help investors optimize returns and reduce risk. Johan Hajji, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024 Insiders expect a short-term funding bill that kicks the spending battle to early next year, although Republican senators are fearful that chaos in the House could derail Trump’s agenda. Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 12 Dec. 2024 The brain moves information from the hippocampus–where short-term memories are stored into the neocortex. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 12 Dec. 2024 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 20 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

short-term

adjective
-ˈtərm
: short-range
short-term goals

Legal Definition

short term

noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!