in the long term
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Meaning · English
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
Where it’s used:
Used
Widespread English
Examples
In the long - term, the centre aims to establish a network for the exchange and distribution of news programmes and documentaries.
First, bodies should determine a set of reasonable objectives to be achieved in the longer term, say over three to four years, for each of their areas of activity.
British National Corpus sentence via the MAGPIE corpus (CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Listed in Wiktionary’s “English idioms” category (retrieved 2026-07-29); definition pending editorial review.
Common questions
What does “in the long term” mean?
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
Is “in the long term” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.