definitions

permanent

[ pur-muh-nuhnt ]
/ ˈpɜr mə nənt /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR permanent ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

existing perpetually; everlasting, especially without significant change.
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

Also called permanent wave. a wave or curl that is set into the hair by the application of a special chemical preparation and that remains for a number of months.

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RELATED WORDS

durable, perpetual, long-lasting, enduring, stable, invariable, set, everlasting, perennial, abiding, changeless, continual, fixed, forever, immutable, imperishable, indestructible, persistent, steadfast, unchanging

Nearby words

permafrost table, permalink, permalloy, permanence, permanency, permanent, permanent cartilage, permanent court of arbitration, permanent dentition, permanent echo, permanent hardness

Origin of permanent

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin permanent- (stem of permanēns), present participle of permanēre to remain. See per-, remain, -ent

Related forms

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for permanent

British Dictionary definitions for permanent

permanent

/ (ˈpɜːmənənt) /

adjective

existing or intended to exist for an indefinite perioda permanent structure
not expected to change for an indefinite time; not temporarya permanent condition

Derived Forms

permanently, adverb

Word Origin for permanent

C15: from Latin permanens continuing, from permanēre to stay to the end, from per- through + manēre to remain
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012