diff --git a/doc8/checks.py b/doc8/checks.py
index 993183f..cf3a06d 100644
--- a/doc8/checks.py
+++ b/doc8/checks.py
@@ -206,6 +206,24 @@ class CheckMaxLineLength(ContentCheck):
                 directives.append((i, find_directive_end(i, lines)))
             elif re.match(r"^::\s*$", line):
                 directives.append((i, find_directive_end(i, lines)))
+
+        # Find definition terms in definition lists
+        # This check may match the code, which is already appended
+        lwhitespaces = r"^\s*"
+        listspattern = r"^\s*(\* |- |#\. |\d+\. )"
+        for i in range(0, len(lines) - 1):
+            line = lines[i]
+            next_line = lines[i + 1]
+            # if line is a blank, line is not a definition term
+            if all_whitespace(line):
+                continue
+            # if line is a list, line is checked as normal line
+            if re.match(listspattern, line):
+                continue
+            if (len(re.search(lwhitespaces, line).group()) <
+                    len(re.search(lwhitespaces, next_line).group())):
+                directives.append((i, i))
+
         return directives
 
     def _txt_checker(self, parsed_file):
diff --git a/doc8/tests/test_checks.py b/doc8/tests/test_checks.py
index 0011d79..af32c05 100644
--- a/doc8/tests/test_checks.py
+++ b/doc8/tests/test_checks.py
@@ -156,6 +156,23 @@ test
                 errors = list(check.report_iter(parsed_file))
                 self.assertEqual(expected_errors, len(errors))
 
+    def test_definition_term_length(self):
+        conf = {
+            'max_line_length': 79,
+            'allow_long_titles': True,
+        }
+        with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(suffix='.rst') as fh:
+            fh.write(b'Definition List which contains long term.\n\n'
+                     b'looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong definition term'
+                     b'this line exceeds 80 chars but should be ignored\n'
+                     b' this is a definition\n')
+            fh.flush()
+
+            parsed_file = parser.ParsedFile(fh.name, encoding='utf-8')
+            check = checks.CheckMaxLineLength(conf)
+            errors = list(check.report_iter(parsed_file))
+            self.assertEqual(0, len(errors))
+
 
 class TestNewlineEndOfFile(testtools.TestCase):
     def test_newline(self):