Word
long-standing
Meanings
Existing or continuing for a long time; well-established.
Having been felt, believed, or disputed for a long time (often used for problems or tensions).
Definition
Existing or continuing for a long time, often with stability or tradition.
Long-standing describes something that has existed or been maintained for many years. It is often used for relationships, traditions, problems, rules, or reputations. The phrase usually suggests durability and continuity over time, whether positive or negative.
Examples
- The committee finally addressed a long-standing complaint that staff had raised for years.
- She remained loyal to a long-standing friend, even when their schedules stopped aligning.
- Our city is known for its long-standing tradition of welcoming newcomers at community events.
- They reached a compromise that eased long-standing tensions between the two teams.
Common mistake
Learners sometimes write *longstanding* as one word; in most standard usage it is hyphenated as long-standing when used as an adjective.
More at C1 level
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- xenophobia Xenophobia is a strong dislike or fear of people from other countries or cultures.
- genocide Genocide is the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular group in order to …
- conundrum A conundrum is a confusing and difficult problem to solve.
- pretentious Trying to seem more important, intelligent, or cultured than you really are.
More adjectives
- agnostic An agnostic is someone who does not claim to know whether God exists.
- pragmatic Pragmatic means focused on practical results rather than ideals or theories.
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- cynical Cynical describes believing that people are mainly motivated by self-interest and not sincere.
- apathetic Apathetic means showing little or no interest, concern, or enthusiasm.