ephemeral

Meaning

Noun

Something which lasts for a short period of time.

Adj

1. Lasting for a short period of time.
2. Existing for only one day, as with some flowers, insects, and diseases.
3. Usually dry, but filling with water for brief periods during and after precipitation.

Opposite of

permanent, eternal, everlasting, timeless

Synonyms

short-lived

transient

fleeting

passing

transitory

evanescent

fugacious

momentary

ephemeron

temporary

shortlived

fugitive

mortal

nondurable

perishable

provisional

short

short-dated

short-run

short-term

vain

vanishing

winged

ephemerid

ephemeropteran

like a bubble on liquid

quick-fading

of the moment

momentany

ad hoc

barely there

aeriform

dayfly

disappearing

empty

episodic

fickle

fly-by-night

impermanent

interim

mayfly

miserable

Translations

éphémère

effimero

efímero

flüchtig

vergänglich

kurzlebig

vorübergehend

ephemer

εφήμερος

transitorio

passeggero

kortstondig

efímer

fuggevole

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɛˈfɛ.mə.ɹəl/

Etymology

From New Latin ephemerus, from Ancient Greek ἐφήμερος (ephḗmeros), the more common form of ἐφημέριος (ephēmérios, “of, for, or during the day, living or lasting but for a day, short-lived, temporary”), from ἐπί (epí, “on”) + ἡμέρα (hēméra, “day”).