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transitory

[ tran-si-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, -zi- ]
/ ˈtræn sɪˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i, -zɪ- /
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adjective
not lasting, enduring, permanent, or eternal.
lasting only a short time; brief; short-lived; temporary.
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Origin of transitory

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English transitorie, from Late Latin trānsitōrius “fleeting” (see transit, -tory1); replacing Middle English transitoire, from Middle French, from Late Latin, as above

synonym study for transitory

2. See temporary.

OTHER WORDS FROM transitory

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use transitory in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for transitory

transitory
/ (ˈtrænsɪtərɪ, -trɪ) /

adjective
of short duration; transient or ephemeral

Derived forms of transitory

transitorily, adverbtransitoriness, noun

Word Origin for transitory

C14: from Church Latin transitōrius passing, from Latin transitus a crossing over; see transient
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
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