long-term effect
nounUK /ˌlɒŋ tɜːm ɪˈfekt/
US /ˌlɔːŋ tɝːm ɪˈfekt/
A change that happens slowly and lasts for a long time.
Eating too much sugar can have a long-term effect on your teeth.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A result that shows up many years after something happens.
Scientists studied the long-term effect of the medicine on older patients.
3. The lasting influence of a decision or event on the future.
The long-term effect of moving to a new city was a happier family life.
4. A slow change in health or the environment caused by repeated actions.
Pollution has a long-term effect on the air we breathe.