evanescent

American  

[ev-uh-nes-uhnt] / ˌɛv əˈnɛs ənt /

adjective

1. vanishing; fading away; fleeting.

2. tending to become imperceptible; scarcely perceptible.

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evanescent British  

/ ˌɛvəˈnɛsənt /

adjective

1. passing out of sight; fading away; vanishing

2. ephemeral or transitory

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Other Word Forms

• evanescence noun
• evanescently adverb
• nonevanescent adjective
• nonevanescently adverb
• unevanescent adjective
• unevanescently adverb

Etymology

Origin of evanescent

First recorded in 1700–1805; from Latin ēvānēscent- (stem of ēvānēscēns ) “vanishing, disappearing”; see evanesce, -ent

Explanation

A beautiful sunset, a rainbow, a wonderful dream right before your alarm clock goes off — all of these could be described as evanescent, which means “fleeting” or “temporary.” Evanescent comes from the Latin ex, meaning "out of," and vanescere, meaning "to vanish." When pronouncing this word, emphasize the third syllable and note that the c is silent. You might want to practice saying evanescent a few times right now; if you stumble over pronunciation when you need this word the most, whatever you’re describing — be it a shooting star or a whiff of fragrant perfume — will be gone.

Example Sentences

While investors walk on eggshells anticipating Fed decisions, tariff relief, and evanescent cease-fires, one company is steadily feeding investors nutritious dividends, cash flows, and earnings per share growth.

From Barron's • Dec. 11, 2025

They’re for viewers making in-game bets on such evanescent propositions.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2024

Sketches and blackouts are often evanescent, like an idea sketched on a cocktail napkin; some last only a few seconds yet might have been fiendishly complicated to prepare and execute.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 20, 2023

Next, Mr. Irwin wanted help producing the acrylic disks for which he would become known: evanescent convex shapes, mounted so they seemed to hover and lit from four sides to create a cloverleaf pattern.

From New York Times • Oct. 13, 2022

Every man, woman, and child who had died in Weep since...since when?...and passed near enough the citadel in their evanescent journey for Minya to catch.

From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor