term

A word or group of words with a particular meaning, often in a subject or job.

• I do not understand that term.
• The doctor explained several medical terms.
• Is there a simpler term for this process?

How to use it: a term for something (What is the medical term for this condition?)

Similar words: word, expression

Common phrases: technical term, medical term, term for something

Used in “in terms of” to say which subject or feature you are discussing.

• They differ in terms of size.
• The plan makes sense in terms of cost.
• What has improved in terms of helping students?

How to use it: in terms of something (This car is cheaper in terms of fuel costs.); in terms of doing something (We made progress in terms of reducing waste.)

Common phrases: in terms of, in cost terms

A set length of time, especially for a job, agreement, or responsibility.

• Her term ends next year.
• He served two terms as mayor.
• The loan has a term of five years.

How to use it: a term of + length of time (The contract has a term of two years.)

Similar words: period, duration

Common phrases: term of office, four-year term, prison term, fixed term

Used with a describing word to show the way you discuss or measure something.

• Describe your plan in general terms.
• In financial terms, the project succeeded.
• The disaster was terrible in human terms.

How to use it: in + adjective + terms (Explain the problem in simple terms.)

Common phrases: in general terms, in financial terms, in simple terms

One of the periods into which a school or university year is divided.

• The new term starts on Monday.
• We have exams at the end of term.
• She missed three weeks of the autumn term.

Common phrases: school term, summer term, term starts, end of term

One number, letter, or group of numbers and letters in a mathematical expression.

• Add the first two terms.
• This term becomes zero when x is zero.
• We simplified the equation by combining like terms.

Common phrases: constant term, first term, additional term, like term

To give someone or something a particular name or description.

• Critics termed the plan a failure.
• The researchers termed these cells unusual.
• What you term progress may cause serious harm.

How to use it: term someone/something + noun/adjective (The report termed the experiment a success.); be termed something (This process is termed evaporation.)

Similar words: call, describe, name

Common phrases: term something something, term it successful

Born after the usual full length of pregnancy.

• The study included healthy term infants.
• A term baby usually needs less breathing support.
• Nurses compared the weights of term and premature newborns.

Similar words: full-term

Opposites: premature

Common phrases: term infant, term baby, term birth