IMPERMANENT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does impermanent mean? 

• IMPERMANENT (adjective)
  The adjective IMPERMANENT has 2 senses:

1. not permanent; not lasting

2. existing or enduring for a limited time only

  Familiarity information: IMPERMANENT used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• IMPERMANENT (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Not permanent; not lasting

Synonyms:

impermanent; temporary

Context example:

temporary housing

Similar:

acting (serving temporarily especially as a substitute)

ephemeral; fugacious; passing; short-lived; transient; transitory (lasting a very short time)

episodic (limited in duration to a single episode)

evanescent (tending to vanish like vapor)

fly-by-night (ephemeral)

improvised; jury-rigged; makeshift (done or made using whatever is available)

interim (serving during an intermediate interval of time)

pro tem; pro tempore (for the time being)

shipboard (casual or ephemeral as if taking place on board a ship)

temporal (not eternal)

terminable (capable of being terminated after a designated time)

working (adopted as a temporary basis for further work)

Also:

unstable (lacking stability or fixity or firmness)

Attribute:

permanence; permanency (the property of being able to exist for an indefinite duration)

Antonym:

permanent (continuing or enduring without marked change in status or condition or place)

Derivation:

impermanence; impermanency (the property of not existing for indefinitely long durations)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Existing or enduring for a limited time only

Similar:

finite (bounded or limited in magnitude or spatial or temporal extent)

Derivation:

impermanence; impermanency (the property of not existing for indefinitely long durations)