transient

[ tran-shuhnt, -zhuhnt, -zee-uhnt ]

adjective

1. not lasting, enduring, or permanent; transitory.
2. lasting only a short time; existing briefly; temporary:

   transient authority.

   Synonyms: evanescent, fugitive, flying, fleeting

   Antonyms: permanent

3. staying only a short time:

   the transient guests at a hotel.

4. Philosophy. transeunt.

noun

1. a person or thing that is transient, especially a temporary guest, boarder, laborer, or the like.
2. Mathematics.
   1. a function that tends to zero as the independent variable tends to infinity.
   2. a solution, especially of a differential equation, having this property.
3. Physics.
   1. a nonperiodic signal of short duration.
   2. a decaying signal, wave, or oscillation.
4. Electricity. a sudden pulse of voltage or current.

transient

/ ˈtrænzɪənt /

adjective

1. for a short time only; temporary or transitory
2. philosophy a variant of transeunt

noun

1. a transient person or thing
2. physics a brief change in the state of a system, such as a sudden short-lived oscillation in the current flowing through a circuit

Derived Forms

• ˈtransience, noun
• ˈtransiently, adverb

Other Words From

• transient·ly adverb
• transient·ness noun
• non·transient adjective
• non·transient·ly adverb
• non·transient·ness noun
• un·transient adjective
• un·transient·ly adverb
• un·transient·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of transient¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin trānsiēns “going across,” present participle of trānsīre “to go across, pass over”; transit

Word History and Origins

Origin of transient¹

C17: from Latin transiēns going over, from transīre to pass over, from trans- + īre to go

Synonym Study

See temporary.

Example Sentences

Their high-end response also allows them to better reproduce transients, the peaks at the beginning of a sound wave.

From Popular-Science

If you’re working in an untreated acoustic space, a dynamic microphone is the best choice due to its relatively low sensitivity, smooth transient response, and good rejection of ambient noise.

From Popular-Science

The latter, dubbed “transient expression,” is especially tantalizing for its rocket speed.

From Singularity Hub 

For some people, the negative side effects of meditation are transient.

From Popular-Science

The foundation of athletic talent is inherently unstable and transient.

From Washington Post

HPV is so transient because no form of safe sex is fool proof.

From The Daily Beast

Because my upbringing was so transient, New York ended up being my home.

From The Daily Beast

Presidential power is surprisingly personal, contingent, and transient, not just institutional and consistent.

From The Daily Beast

Los Angeles police have described Campbell as a transient who has lived in the city for only a short period.

From The Daily Beast

In this case “transient” is attached, because most patients with this disorder make a full recovery after a period of time.

From The Daily Beast

As he walked back to his hotel, his head was full of plans for the girl's transient pleasure and lasting benefit.

From Project Gutenberg

He was Gascon to the backbone, and his tongue too often betrayed his most secret and his most transient thoughts.

From Project Gutenberg

To the Indians and the Negroes, tobacco is almost the only solace in this transient life.

From Project Gutenberg

Our fine weather was very transient, for it was raining again when we reached Worcester.

From Project Gutenberg

But the Transient Car bill, as it came to be called, began mysteriously to attract unprecedented attention.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• ephemeral
• fleeting
• short-term
• transitory