term

¹

[ turm ]

noun

1. a word or group of words designating something, especially in a particular field, as atom in physics, quietism in theology, adze in carpentry, or district leader in politics.
2. any word or group of words considered as a member of a construction or utterance.
3. the time or period through which something lasts.
4. a period of time to which limits have been set:

   elected for a term of four years.

5. one of two or more divisions of a school year, during which instruction is regularly provided.
6. an appointed or set time or date, as for the payment of rent, interest, wages, etc.
7. terms,
   1. conditions with regard to payment, price, charge, rates, wages, etc.:

      reasonable terms.

   2. conditions or stipulations limiting what is proposed to be granted or done:

      the terms of a treaty.

   3. footing or standing; relations:

      on good terms with someone.

   4. Obsolete. state, situation, or circumstances.
8. Algebra, Arithmetic.
   1. each of the members of which an expression, a series of quantities, or the like, is composed, as one of two or more parts of an algebraic expression.
   2. a mathematical expression of the form axp, axpyq, etc., where a, p, and q are numbers and x and y are variables.
9. Logic.
   1. the subject or predicate of a categorical proposition.
   2. the word or expression denoting the subject or predicate of a categorical proposition.
10. Also called terminus. a figure, especially of Terminus, in the form of a herm, used by the ancient Romans as a boundary marker; terminal figure.
11. Law.
    1. an estate or interest in land or the like, to be enjoyed for a fixed period.
    2. the duration of an estate.
    3. each of the periods during which certain courts of law hold their sessions.
12. completion of pregnancy; parturition.
13. Archaic.
    1. end, conclusion, or termination.
    2. boundary or limit.

verb (used with object)

1. to apply a particular term or name to; name; call; designate.

term.

²

abbreviation for

1. terminal.
2. termination.

term

/ tɜːm /

noun

1. a name, expression, or word used for some particular thing, esp in a specialized field of knowledge

   a medical term

2. any word or expression
3. a limited period of time

   a prison term

   his second term of office

4. any of the divisions of the academic year during which a school, college, etc, is in session
5. a point in time determined for an event or for the end of a period
6. Also calledfull term the period at which childbirth is imminent
7. law
   1. an estate or interest in land limited to run for a specified period

      a term of years

   2. the duration of an estate, etc
   3. (formerly) a period of time during which sessions of courts of law were held
   4. time allowed to a debtor to settle
8. maths either of the expressions the ratio of which is a fraction or proportion, any of the separate elements of a sequence, or any of the individual addends of a polynomial or series
9. logic
   1. the word or phrase that forms either the subject or predicate of a proposition
   2. a name or variable, as opposed to a predicate
   3. one of the relata of a relation
   4. any of the three subjects or predicates occurring in a syllogism
10. Also calledterminalterminusterminal figure architect a sculptured post, esp one in the form of an armless bust or an animal on the top of a square pillar
11. Australian rules football the usual word for quarter
12. archaic.
    a boundary or limit

verb

1. tr to designate; call

   he was termed a thief

term

/ tûrm /

1. Each of the quantities or expressions that form the parts of a ratio or the numerator and denominator of a fraction.
2. Any of the quantities in an equation that are connected to other quantities by a plus sign or a minus sign.

Derived Forms

• ˈtermly, adverb

Other Words From

• termly adverb
• half-term noun
• inter·term adjective
• mis·term verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of term¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English terme, from Old French, from Latin terminus “boundary, limit, end”; akin to Greek térmōn “limit”

Word History and Origins

Origin of term¹

C13: from Old French terme, from Latin terminus end

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. bring to terms, to force to agree to stated demands or conditions; bring into submission:

   After a long struggle, we brought them to terms.

2. come to terms,
   1. to reach an agreement; make an arrangement:

      to come to terms with a creditor.

   2. to become resigned or accustomed:

      to come to terms with one's life.

3. eat one's terms, British Informal. to study for the bar; be a law student.
4. in terms of, with regard to; concerning:

   The book offers nothing in terms of a satisfactory conclusion.

Example Sentences

The prison term was slightly shorter than the 21-year prison sentence sought by prosecutors, but is still unusually long for a white-collar crime.

From BBC

"We wanted to know whether people born prematurely have a higher risk of short-term and long-term mortality compared to individuals who were born full term," Ahmed said.

From Science Daily

In his first term as president, he demanded a crackdown on leaks that eventually entailed secretly seizing the private communications of reporters, including some from The New York Times, The Washington Post and CNN.

From New York Times

The higher wages, it said, would balloon hotels’ labor costs so much that sticking to the terms of the deal would be untenable.

From Los Angeles Times

Capturing methane, a greenhouse gas over 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide in the short term, is vital for combating climate change.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• call
• describe
• dub

More About Term

What is a term?

In algebra, a term is an individual number or variable or a combination of them, such as 7, x, or 5y.

In a similar way, a term is also a word or a group of words, especially those that belong to a specific field. For example, modifier is a grammar term used to describe a word or phrase that limits or qualifies something else. 

A term can also be any word or phrase. We use term in these articles to describe the word or phrase we’re talking about (check out “Where does term come from?” below for an example).

Its plural form, terms, can refer to a set of rules or conditions, such as the terms for repaying a loan or the terms for a truce.

To term something is to name or designate something, as in Rainey termed her mother’s angry look the “Rainey Is in Trouble” look.

Term can also do with time. Any period of time with a beginning and an end can be called a term. A division of a school year is often called a term, as is the period a politician serves in a specific office. A US president serves a term of four years and can only serve two terms, for example.

Example: Always read the terms of service before signing on to a new service.

Where does term come from?

The first records of the term term come from around the 1170s. It ultimately comes from the Latin word terminus, meaning “boundary, limit, or end.”

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to term?

• termly (adverb)
• half-term (noun)
• interterm (adjective)
• misterm (verb)

What are some synonyms for term?

• name
• word
• duration
• phase
• describe

What are some words that share a root or word element with term? 

• terminal
• terminate
• terminus

What are some words that often get used in discussing term?

• undefined
• revised
• long
• short

How is term used in real life?

Term is a commonly used word with several meanings, many referring to time in some way.

The 'hedgehog's dilemma' is a term used to describe that feeling when you love getting attention and hate it at the same time.

— UberFacts (@UberFacts) March 16, 2020

Just got off FaceTime w Mrs. Maloley she grounded me for the night but other than that we are on good terms!

— J (@JVCKJ) October 17, 2015

MUFC have 11 more points after 14 league games compared with last season. Team have scored 13 more and conceded half the goals, too. Second in the table against sixth last term.

— Andy Mitten (@AndyMitten) November 30, 2017

 

Try using term!

Is term used correctly in the following sentence?

“Janelle was excited for the end of the school term because she was going away for the break.”