Short-term

Definition

Short-term refers to a period of time that is near in the future or immediately upcoming, often in contrast to long-term periods which are more distant.

Parts of Speech

• Adjective
• Adverb

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˈʃɔrtˌtɜrm/
• Respelling: SHAWRT-turm (with "SHAWRT" as in "caught" but with an 'sh' at the beginning, and "turm" as in "term" with a more pronounced 'r' sound)

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˈʃɒːtˌtɜːm/
• Respelling: SHORT-turm (with "SHORT" as in "cot" with an 'sh' at the beginning, but longer, and "turm" as in "term" with a more pronounced 'r' sound)

In both dialects, "short-term" emphasizes the "short" part with primary stress and has a secondary stress on "term." The difference lies primarily in the vowel sound of "short," reflecting the typical vowel variation between American and British English. American English tends toward a more rounded vowel, while British English has a more open and sometimes longer vowel sound in words like "short."

Etymology

The term "short-term" is formed through the composition of the words "short" and "term". "Short" comes from Old English sceort, and "term" comes from Latin terminus, meaning "boundary, end, limit." The compound adjective has been used to refer to time periods of brief or limited duration since at least the 18th century.

Derivatives

• Short-termism
• Short-termly
• Short-termist

Synonyms

Adjective

• Temporary
• Transient

Adverb

• Temporarily
• Briefly

Antonyms

Adjective

• Long-term
• Permanent

Usage

The phrase "short-term" is often used in business, finance, and planning contexts to refer to periods of time that are near in the future. It may be used to describe goals, plans, or financial instruments that will come to fruition or mature in the near future.

Related Terms

• Short-term loan
• Short-term memory
• Short-term rental

Detailed Definition

Adjective

• Limited Duration: Pertaining to or covering a relatively short period of time.
• Example: They secured a short-term loan to cover their immediate expenses.

• Immediate Future: Referring to the immediate or near future.
• Example: The manager discussed the short-term goals for the quarter.

Adverb

• Temporarily: For a short period of time.
• Example: The worker was employed short-term to complete the project.