short-term
🇬🇧 /ˌʃɔˈːttɜːm/
🇺🇸 /ˌʃɔˈrttɜrm/
📖 Definitions
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adjective
Relating to or occurring over a relatively brief period of time; not lasting long.; Involving or relating to a brief period of time, typically less than one year, especially in financial or investment contexts.; Relating to memory that holds information for only a brief period, typically seconds to minutes.; Of or relating to a loan, debt, or obligation that is due for repayment within a relatively short period, usually one year or less.; Focused on immediate results or benefits rather than long-term planning or consequences.
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noun
A brief period of time; the near future.
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adjective
Of a rental, lease, or accommodation arrangement that is for a limited duration, typically days, weeks, or a few months.
🔗 Details
Word forms
Collocations
short-term memoryshort-term goalshort-term solutionshort-term effectshort-term investmentshort-term gainshort-term plan
Derivatives
short-termismshort-termerlong-term
Synonyms
temporarybrieftransientimmediateprovisional
Antonyms
long-termpermanentlastingenduring
Commonly confused
short-lived
EN: 'short-lived' emphasizes brevity of duration (often unexpectedly brief); 'short-term' implies a planned or defined limited period.
short term
EN: 'short-term' (hyphenated) is the standard compound adjective before a noun; 'short term' without a hyphen is sometimes used after a verb (e.g., 'in the short term').
Spelling tips
EN: Always hyphenate 'short-term' when used as a compound adjective before a noun (e.g., 'a short-term goal'). The unhyphenated form 'short term' is acceptable only as a noun phrase (e.g., 'in the short term').
💬 Examples
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The company is looking for a short-term solution to the cash flow problem.
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She prefers short-term investments because they are less risky in volatile markets.
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The patient suffered from short-term memory loss after the accident.
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The bank issued short-term notes to cover its immediate liquidity needs.
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Critics accused the government of short-term thinking that ignored the environmental impact.
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In the short-term, the new policy will likely increase unemployment.
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They found a short-term apartment while their house was being renovated.