impermanent

IPA/ɪmˈpɜːmənənt/
IPA/ɪmˈpɜːrmənənt/

impermanent — adjective

  • impermanentpositive
  • more impermanentcomparative
  • most impermanentsuperlative

1. likely to change, disappear, or stop existing after a short period of time; not

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

likely to change, disappear, or stop existing after a short period of time; not designed to last or remain unchanged indefinitely — for example, a temporary job, a brief moment of happiness, or the beauty of a flower that fades quickly.

Example

Talia knew her resort job was impermanent, so she saved money for winter.

predicative use: be + impermanent

Hari reminded himself that all possessions are impermanent and focused on building lasting memories instead.

collocation: impermanent possessions

Common collocations
  • impermanent nature
  • impermanent state
  • impermanent world
  • impermanent things
  • impermanent beauty
Synonyms
  • temporary

    suggests a fixed, limited duration (e.g. a temporary job); less philosophical than impermanent

  • transient

    more formal; emphasises briefness and the idea of passing through (e.g. transient beauty)

  • fleeting

    suggests something that vanishes almost instantly (e.g. a fleeting glance)

Antonyms
  • permanent

    lasting or intended to last indefinitely

  • lasting

    continuing for a long time without significant change

Usage Note

More formal than 'temporary' or 'short-lived'. Common in philosophical, spiritual, or reflective writing — especially discussions about the impermanent nature of life, beauty, or material things. 'Temporary' often implies a known end date; 'impermanent' emphasises the natural, unavoidable transience of something.

Common Mistakes

The library is closed for an impermanent period.
The library is closed for a temporary period.
For a fixed, limited duration with a known end, use 'temporary' or 'short-term', not 'impermanent'.
The weather is very impermanent today.
The weather is very changeable today.
'Impermanent' is not used for everyday changes; use 'changeable' or 'unpredictable' instead.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe things that do not last, but they differ in tone and use. 'Temporary' is the most neutral and practical — it describes a limited duration with a known end, such as a temporary position or a temporary fix. 'Impermanent' is more formal and carries a philosophical weight: it suggests the natural, inevitable transience of life, beauty, or material things. 'Transient' is also formal and emphasises passing through without staying, often used for abstract concepts (transient joy, transient population). 'Fleeting' is the most poetic and brief — a fleeting smile is gone in an instant, while a short-lived fashion trend may last a season. In everyday speech, 'temporary' is the safest choice; in reflective or academic writing, 'impermanent' or 'transient' fit better.

temporary ↗transient ↗fleeting ↗short-lived

Common collocations

Nouns

  • impermanent nature
  • impermanent world
  • impermanent state
  • impermanent things
  • impermanent beauty
  • impermanent arrangement

Adverbs

  • inherently impermanent
  • ultimately impermanent
  • fundamentally impermanent
  • necessarily impermanent

Phrases

  • the impermanence of something

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Formed in English from the prefix 'im-' (a variant of 'in-', meaning 'not') added to 'permanent'. 'Permanent' traces back through French to the Latin verb 'permanēre' — from 'per-' (through) + 'manēre' (to stay or remain). Something permanent 'stays through'; adding 'im-' negates that idea, giving 'impermanent' its meaning of 'not staying, not lasting'.

First known use

1653

1653, in the meaning defined above