Permian

American  

[pur-mee-uhn] / ˈpɜr mi ən /

adjective

1. Geology. noting or pertaining to a period of the Paleozoic Era occurring from about 280 to 230 million years ago and characterized by a profusion of amphibian species.

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noun

1. Geology. the Permian Period or System.

2. Permic.

Permian British  

/ ˈpɜːmɪən /

adjective

1. of, denoting, or formed in the last period of the Palaeozoic era, between the Carboniferous and Triassic periods, which lasted for 60 000 000 years

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noun

1. the Permian period or rock system

Permian Scientific  

/ pûr′mē-ən /

1. The seventh and last period of the Paleozoic Era, from about 286 to 245 million years ago. During the Permian Period the supercontinent Pangaea, comprising almost all of today's landmasses, formed. Gymnosperms evolved, the first modern conifers appeared, and reptiles diversified. The Permian Period ended with the largest known mass extinction in the history of life. It wiped out nearly 90 percent of known marine life forms.

2. See Chart at geologic time

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Other Word Forms

• post-Permian
  adjective
• pre-Permian
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of Permian

First recorded in 1835–45; Perm + -ian

Example Sentences

“We sit at the intersection of that. We are providing the ability for industry to further develop the Permian and scale it into this fully integrated energy ecosystem.”

From Barron's • May 14, 2026

Investor anxiety about production growth in the Permian Basin has a long history.

From Barron's • May 5, 2026

Small private oil companies are expected to put more rigs on the map in the coming weeks and months, but they represent a small share of the Permian.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

The discovery of Tanyka helps scientists better understand life during the early Permian Period.

From Science Daily • May 1, 2026

Eddie Driscoll, who would end up attending Oberlin College, said he had never been pushed at Permian and generally had half an hour’s worth of homework a night.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger