transitory
adjective
tran·si·to·ry ˈtran(t)-sə-ˌtȯr-ē 
ˈtran-zə-
ˈtran-zə- 1
: of brief duration : temporary
the transitory nature of earthly joy
2
: tending to pass away : not persistent
transitorily
ˌtran(t)-sə-ˈtȯr-ə-lē
adverb ˌtran-zə-
transitoriness
ˈtran(t)-sə-ˌtȯr-ē-nəs
noun ˈtran-zə-
Synonyms
- brief
- deciduous
- ephemeral
- evanescent
- flash
- fleeting
- fugacious
- fugitive
- impermanent
- momentary
- passing
- short-lived
- temporary
- transient
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
the transitory nature of earthly pleasures
Recent Examples on the Web That shift decreases the chances that the post-Labor Day boost is transitory. 
Peter Grant, WSJ, 19 Sep. 2022 Inflation may not be transitory but being leader of the U.K. Gerard Baker, WSJ, 5 Sep. 2022 Inflation, which economists once hoped was transitory, has proven to be anything but. Colin Lodewick, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2022 The current bout of inflation seems to have taken the markets and Fed, and everyone else who viewed it as transitory, by surprise. Jonathan Dash, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2022 Central bank textbooks see supply shocks’ effect on inflation as transitory so long as the public doesn’t expect permanently higher future inflation. Nick Timiraos, WSJ, 21 Mar. 2022 Inflation, which some economists initially thought would be transitory, has endured much longer than expected. Colin Lodewick, Fortune, 29 June 2022 Gates is careful to emphasize that term, and not ownership, recognizing that possession of any wonderful thing is transitory. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 5 July 2022 To many, the transitory inflation scenario seems too optimistic. Paul Swartz, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2021 See More
Peter Grant, WSJ, 19 Sep. 2022 Inflation may not be transitory but being leader of the U.K. Gerard Baker, WSJ, 5 Sep. 2022 Inflation, which economists once hoped was transitory, has proven to be anything but. Colin Lodewick, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2022 The current bout of inflation seems to have taken the markets and Fed, and everyone else who viewed it as transitory, by surprise. Jonathan Dash, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2022 Central bank textbooks see supply shocks’ effect on inflation as transitory so long as the public doesn’t expect permanently higher future inflation. Nick Timiraos, WSJ, 21 Mar. 2022 Inflation, which some economists initially thought would be transitory, has endured much longer than expected. Colin Lodewick, Fortune, 29 June 2022 Gates is careful to emphasize that term, and not ownership, recognizing that possession of any wonderful thing is transitory. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 5 July 2022 To many, the transitory inflation scenario seems too optimistic. Paul Swartz, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English transitorie, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin transitorius, from Latin, of or allowing passage, from transire
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
transitoriness
noun
as in temporariness
the state or quality of lasting only for a short time given the transitoriness of inspiration, artists are inclined to work quickly whenever a new idea strikes Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- temporariness
- transience
- impermanence
- fleetingness
- impermanency
- transiency
- ephemerality
- shortness
- evanescence
- momentariness
- fugitiveness
- brevity
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- permanence
- endurance
- continuation
- continuance
- permanency
- longevity