Longtime describes something that has existed or continued for many years. A longtime friend is someone you've known since you were very young. A longtime teacher at your school might have worked there for twenty years or more.

The word combines “long” and “time” to emphasize duration. It's written as one word when it comes before a noun (longtime neighbor, longtime tradition), but you'd say “we've been friends for a long time” when the words are separate.

You'll often see longtime when someone is being introduced or recognized for their experience. “Ms. Johnson, a longtime volunteer at the library, received an award tonight.” The word signals that this person didn't just show up recently: they've been part of something for years, building relationships and gaining experience along the way.

A longtime rivalry between sports teams means they've been competing for generations. A longtime family tradition might be something your grandparents started that continues today. The word carries a sense of steadiness and commitment, suggesting that whatever it describes has stood the test of time.