shortterm

Short-term is a term used to describe a period of time that is relatively brief. The exact length can vary by context, but it generally refers to intervals spanning days, weeks, or months rather than years. The concept is commonly contrasted with long-term, which denotes a more extended horizon. In everyday language, short-term can apply to plans, goals, effects, or conditions that are intended to last only a limited time.

In economics and finance, the short-term perspective emphasizes liquidity, immediate constraints, and near-future results. Short-term debt maturities, working capital management, and tactical investments focus on satisfying near-term needs, while long-term strategies address growth, sustainability, and capital structure over years. Short-term effects and risk can differ from long-term consequences due to discounting, uncertainty, and changing conditions.

In management and project planning, short-term goals are specific, time-bound targets that advance broader objectives. Short-term planning often aligns with budgets, quarterly cycles, or sprint-based work in agile environments. The emphasis is on adaptability and rapid feedback to adjust tactics as conditions evolve.

In psychology and cognitive science, short-term memory refers to the capacity to hold a small amount of information in an accessible state for a brief period, typically seconds to minutes. This contrasts with long-term memory, which stores information over extended time spans and with different neural processes.

Other uses include medicine, where short-term treatment addresses acute conditions, and policy discussions that consider short-term impacts alongside potential long-term effects. The term is frequently hyphenated as short-term, though appearances of "short term" or "shortterm" occur in less formal writing.