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.
Scientists have recently learned that these loops are not permanent.
From Science Daily
But this time, the goal is to build a permanent Moon base to exploit its natural resources and provide a springboard for an attempt to reach Mars.
From BBC
Iran is insisting on permanent oversight including a system of tolls.
The research is clear that while technological changes can reshape industries over decades, they have never led to a permanent, economy-wide loss in employment.
From Barron's
Congress didn’t pass the first modern immigration law until 1875, and for much of history migrants “could freely enter the United States and take up permanent residence,” the government says.
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.
