decades-long

adjective

de·​cades-long ˈde-ˌkādz-ˌlȯŋ How to pronounce decades-long (audio)
variants or less commonly decadeslong
: lasting two or more decades : occurring over a period of two or more decades
a decades-long career
… no discussion of wolf research would be complete without mention of this fascinating, decades-long study.Robert R. Ream
His decades-long accumulation of books makes an eclectic mix …Stephen Mihm

Examples of decades-long in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Despite its decades-long ubiquity in our lives and our iCals, the building has just as often stirred negative feelings. Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 3 July 2026 And while many know Mariska Hargitay from her decades-long run on Law & Order or as one of the Knicks' biggest hype women, she can also be considered among fashion's unexpected trendsetters. Amanda Le, InStyle, 2 July 2026 Another decades-long wave of immigration followed, this time from different parts of the world. Albert Sun, New York Times, 2 July 2026 Experts note this isn't just short-term inflation but a decades-long trend where productivity gains haven't translated into median wage growth. William Arruda, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for decades-long

Word History

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of decades-long was in 1930

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Cite this Entry

“Decades-long.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decades-long. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

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