decades-long

adjective

de·​cades-long ˈde-ˌkādz-ˌlȯŋ 

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

Katharine Pavoni, deputy director of the British Columbia Film Commission, tells THR that Vancouver’s decades-long track record as Hollywood’s backlot has served it well as the major studios and streamers return in strength to produce locally. —Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 1 May 2026

Take the quiz here … SACRED SECRETS —Christian leader's treasure found after decades-long mystery. —FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026

Several times in the last couple of decades, Microsoft has released source code for the original MS-DOS operating system that kicked off its decades-long dominance of consumer PCs. —Andrew Cunningham, ArsTechnica, 30 Apr. 2026

Orwell loathed Communism, especially the decades-long rule of Russia’s murderous dictator Joseph Stalin. —Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 30 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for decades-long

• agung
• along
• belong
• birdsong
• furlong
• headlong
• headstrong
• lifelong
• plainsong
• prolong
• sarong
• tanjong