long-form

American  

[lawng-fawrm, long‐] / ˈlɔŋˌfɔrm, ˈlɒŋ‐ /

Or longform

adjective

1. noting or relating to journalistic content or a genre of journalism characterized by stories or essays that are several thousand words long, typically combining factual reporting with a narrative and empathetic style.

   A long-form article can illuminate and humanize your subject.

2. noting or relating to other types of print or visual media content characterized by in-depth, lengthy narratives.

   a long-form TV drama whose story unfolds over ten episodes; long-form comics and graphic novels.

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noun

1. journalistic or other media content so characterized.

   I've started writing more long-form on my blog.

Etymology

Origin of long-form

long ¹ ( def. ) + form ( def. )

Compare meaning

How does long-form compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• short-form vs. long-form

Example Sentences

Choosing depth over volume also matters: one carefully reported long-form article will inform you better than bursts of random, unreliable and emotionally loaded posts on Instagram.

From Science Daily • Jun. 16, 2026

The most satisfying aspect about long-form television, Cage thinks, is the ample space allowed to collaborate in shaping his character over the course of the production.

From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2026

She also spent eight years at Politico, where she reported investigations and long-form stories about the biggest events in recent history, including the 2016 and 2020 elections and the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

Half of the platform's top-trending videos now more closely resemble traditional TV, including long-form interviews and game shows, positioning it as a direct competitor to ad-supported TV services.

From BBC • Feb. 27, 2026

The long-form name is included in the ``Government'' section, and an entry of ``none'' indicates a long-form name does not exist.

From The 1992 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency