permanent
Americanadjective
-
existing perpetually; everlasting, especially without significant change.
- Synonyms:
- constant, invariable, stable
- Antonyms:
- inconstant, temporary
-
intended to exist or function for a long, indefinite period without regard to unforeseeable conditions.
a permanent employee; the permanent headquarters of the United Nations.
-
long-lasting or nonfading.
permanent pleating; permanent ink.
noun
adjective
-
existing or intended to exist for an indefinite period
a permanent structure
-
not expected to change for an indefinite time; not temporary
a permanent condition
Other Word Forms
- nonpermanent adjective
- nonpermanently adverb
- permanently adverb
- permanentness noun
- pseudopermanent adjective
- quasi-permanent adjective
- quasi-permanently adverb
- subpermanent adjective
- subpermanently adverb
- unpermanent adjective
- unpermanently adverb
Etymology
Origin of permanent
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin permanent-, stem of permanēns “remaining,” present participle of permanēre “to remain”; per-, remain
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.
An 11th-hour review by the city’s Department of Buildings, a department spokesman said, showed the club “was no longer utilizing temporary stage equipment but instead had constructed a whole permanent building.”
In addition to private séance work, Kate took a permanent position offered by a wealthy Spiritualist who wanted to spread his beliefs to the wider public.
From Literature
Esfandiari, 39, was also handed a permanent ban from French territory, according to an AFP journalist present at the court.
From Barron's
Turk urged "diplomatic and political pressure" to push the parties towards a humanitarian truce that leads to a permanent ceasefire.
From Barron's
After six surgeries to repair the bones and nerves in her right arm, Horta was left with permanent damage, according to a brief by her attorneys in the lawsuit she filed in 2022.
From Los Angeles Times
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.
