temporary

[tem-puh-rer-ee]

adjective

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

   a temporary need;

   a temporary job.

   Synonyms: passing, impermanent
   Antonyms: permanent

noun

plural

temporaries 

1. temp.

temporary

/ ˈtɛmprərɪ, ˈtɛmpərərɪ /

adjective

1. not permanent; provisional

   temporary accommodation

2. lasting only a short time; transitory

   temporary relief from pain

noun

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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of temporary¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of temporary¹

C16: from Latin temporārius, from tempus time

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

Understand that Gen Z’s backlash could be a temporary shift and not a permanent one.

Read more on MarketWatch

Other firms are still free to come up with new products, and so the temporary monopolies that patents give don’t kill economic progress.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Stalled ; A Boston federal judge issued a temporary restraining order against the Department of Homeland Security, halting the effort.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The analysts, led by Jan Hatzius, see a temporary extension of the current tariff pause and minor concessions from both sides as being likely.

Read more on Barron's

The high court ruling set aside a Los Angeles judge’s temporary restraining order that barred agents from stopping people based in part on their race or apparent ethnicity.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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