permanence
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
- nonpermanence noun
Etymology
Origin of permanence
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English word from Medieval Latin word permanentia. See permanent, -ence
Explanation
Permanence is when something sticks around forever, like your mother's love or the smell of smoke after you accidentally start a fire in your kitchen. Something can give the impression of permanence, even if it isn't literally infinite, like a massive stone castle or a pesky neighbor who always seems to be hanging around. The noun permanence comes from permanent, which in Latin means "remaining to the end," from the roots per, "through," and manere, "remain or stay."
Vocabulary lists containing permanence
Sheryl Sandberg Commencement Address 2016
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Twenty-Four Seconds from Now
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The Serpent King
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Despite their aura of permanence, Oscar statuettes have occasionally vanished over the years.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 12, 2026
Compounding that issue is the permanence of AI-related job losses.
From Barron's • Feb. 23, 2026
This nuance can be seen to call into question the permanence and depth of their connection to any given political party or ideology.
From Salon • Feb. 21, 2026
When authorization denials become effectively unreviewable, legal error hardens into permanence by default.
From Slate • Jan. 10, 2026
But there were also times when they had the illusion not only of safety but of permanence.
From "1984" by George Orwell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
