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Synonyms

permanent

American  
[pur-muh-nuhnt] / ˈpɜr mə nənt /

adjective

  1. existing perpetually; everlasting, especially without significant change.

    Synonyms:
    constant, invariable, stable
    Antonyms:
    inconstant, temporary

  2. 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.

  3. long-lasting or nonfading.

    permanent pleating; permanent ink.

noun

  1. 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.

permanent British  
/ ˈpɜːmənənt /

adjective

  1. existing or intended to exist for an indefinite period

    a permanent structure

  2. not expected to change for an indefinite time; not temporary

    a permanent condition
"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

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.

It was the permanent secretary in the department at the time, Sir David Normington.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

In a post-coup period of emergency rule, Min Aung Hlaing served as both commander-in-chief of the armed forces and acting president, but to become permanent president he is constitutionally compelled to relinquish his military post.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

Drivers have long wanted to put a permanent stopper on stop-start.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Gen. Todd Blanche, Trump’s former personal criminal defense attorney, will serve as acting attorney general until a permanent replacement is named.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

Directly below us in Sagan’s permanent sunlight, though, lies a jungle tree canopy of Jurassic-sized leaves.

From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera

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.