temporary

American  

[tem-puh-rer-ee] / ˈtɛm pəˌrɛr i /

adjective

1. lasting, existing, serving, or effective for a time only; not permanent.

   a temporary need;

   a temporary job.

   Synonyms:

   passing, impermanent

   Antonyms:

   permanent

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noun

plural

temporaries

1. temp.

temporary British  

/ ˈtɛmprərɪ, ˈtɛmpərərɪ /

adjective

1. not permanent; provisional

   temporary accommodation

2. lasting only a short time; transitory

   temporary relief from pain

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noun

1. Often shortened to: temp.  a person, esp a secretary or other office worker, employed on a temporary basis

Related Words

Temporary, transient, transitory agree in referring to that which is not lasting or permanent. Temporary implies an arrangement established with no thought of continuance but with the idea of being changed soon: a temporary structure. Transient describes that which is in the process of passing by, and which will therefore last or stay only a short time: a transient condition. Transitory describes an innate characteristic by which a thing, by its very nature, lasts only a short time: Life is transitory.

Other Word Forms

• nontemporariness noun
• nontemporary adjective
• temporarily adverb
• temporariness noun
• untemporary adjective

Etymology

Origin of temporary

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin temporārius, equivalent to tempor- (stem of tempus ) “time” + -ārius -ary

Example Sentences

The ruling may offer temporary relief for some exporters, but trade policy remains uncertain.

From The Wall Street Journal

In December 2024, the executive agreed to a temporary moratorium on petroleum licensing.

From BBC

That unusual unity, however, may already be starting to crack as the month draws to a close, suggesting the market’s temporary alliance against Big Tech may not last.

From MarketWatch

Earlier in February, Bundesbank President and ECB rate setter Joachim Nagel said the central bank was unlikely to react to a temporary slowdown in inflation.

From The Wall Street Journal

Partyers could climb to the second floor of a temporary structure, where a bar offered views of the Manhattan skyline.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• brief
• interim
• limited
• makeshift
• momentary
• provisional
• short-lived
• transitory