permanent
Americanadjective
-
existing perpetually; everlasting, especially without significant change.
- Synonyms:
- constant, invariable, stable
- Antonyms:
- inconstant, temporary
-
intended to exist or function for a long, indefinite period without regard to unforeseeable conditions.
a permanent employee; the permanent headquarters of the United Nations.
-
long-lasting or nonfading.
permanent pleating; permanent ink.
noun
adjective
-
existing or intended to exist for an indefinite period
a permanent structure
-
not expected to change for an indefinite time; not temporary
a permanent condition
Other Word Forms
- nonpermanent adjective
- nonpermanently adverb
- permanently adverb
- permanentness noun
- pseudopermanent adjective
- quasi-permanent adjective
- quasi-permanently adverb
- subpermanent adjective
- subpermanently adverb
- unpermanent adjective
- unpermanently adverb
Etymology
Origin of permanent
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin permanent-, stem of permanēns “remaining,” present participle of permanēre “to remain”; per-, remain
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
And you thought permanent eyebrows were a commitment.
From Los Angeles Times
The club are understood to be looking at other candidates - along with Carrick - to take over as permanent manager in the summer.
From BBC
While Beijing could celebrate the Thaad system being moved, it is unlikely to see that as a victory unless it becomes a "permanent removal", said Professor Ian Chong of the National University of Singapore.
From BBC
The permanent secretary said he had been assured that the government had not withheld information it had been ordered to publish and that ministers had fully complied with previous rulings.
From BBC
For nearly a century, the Oscar statuette has been Hollywood’s most enduring symbol of success, a gold-plated knight gripping a crusader’s sword, designed to look as permanent as the honor it represents.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
