protracted

Protracted is an adjective meaning lasting longer than generally expected or desired; drawn out or extended. It is often used to describe processes or events that are extended and tedious, such as protracted negotiations or a protracted illness.

The term derives from Latin protractus, from pro- “forward” and trahere “to draw.” In English it is formed from protract plus the -ed suffix, and the related noun is protraction.

Common contexts include diplomacy, law, and warfare (protracted negotiations, protracted litigation, protracted war); medicine (protracted illness); environmental and infrastructural contexts (protracted droughts, protracted delays in construction). The core sense is temporal duration; the word does not imply the event is inherently severe, though it is often associated with hardship or frustration.

Related terms include protract (verb) and protraction (noun). Synonyms include prolonged, extended, drawn-out; antonyms include brief, short-lived, instantaneous. The word is used in formal or neutral discourse and often carries a negative connotation when the duration is viewed as unwelcome or avoidable.