transitory

American  

[tran-si-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, -zi-] / ˈtræn sɪˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i, -zɪ- /

adjective

1. not lasting, enduring, permanent, or eternal.

2. lasting only a short time; brief; short-lived; temporary.

   Antonyms:

   permanent

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transitory British  

/ -trɪ, ˈtrænsɪtərɪ /

adjective

1. of short duration; transient or ephemeral

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Related Words

See temporary.

Other Word Forms

• transitorily adverb
• transitoriness noun
• untransitorily adverb
• untransitoriness noun
• untransitory adjective

Etymology

Origin of transitory

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English transitorie, from Late Latin trānsitōrius “fleeting” ( transit, -tory ¹ ); replacing Middle English transitoire, from Middle French, from Late Latin, as above

Example Sentences

These transitory life events can, for some, lead to intense loneliness.

From BBC

In the same speech, Lane said the ECB would not respond to “small, transitory” deviations of inflation from its target, but would change policy in response to “large, sustained” departures.

From The Wall Street Journal

Lane said the ECB would not respond to “small, transitory” deviations of inflation from its target, but would change policy in response to “large, sustained” departures.

From The Wall Street Journal

Cantor’s recent crypto success could prove transitory, given the recent swoon in cryptocurrencies and the industry’s history of booms and busts.

From The Wall Street Journal

Ahuja, though, said the discrepancy relates more to “transitory” factors than underlying business issues.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• ephemeral
• fleeting
• short-lived