transitory

[ tran-si-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, -zi- ]

adjective

1. not lasting, enduring, permanent, or eternal.
2. lasting only a short time; brief; short-lived; temporary.

   Antonyms: permanent

transitory

/ -trɪ; ˈtrænsɪtərɪ /

adjective

1. of short duration; transient or ephemeral

Derived Forms

• ˈtransitoriness, noun
• ˈtransitorily, adverb

Other Words From

• tran·si·to·ri·ly [tran, -si-tawr-, uh, -lee, -tohr-, tran-si-, tawr, -, -, tohr, -, -zi-], adverb
• transi·tori·ness noun
• un·transi·tori·ly adverb
• un·transi·tori·ness noun
• un·transi·tory adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of transitory¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English transitorie, from Late Latin trānsitōrius “fleeting” ( transit, -tory ¹ ); replacing Middle English transitoire, from Middle French, from Late Latin, as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of transitory¹

C14: from Church Latin transitōrius passing, from Latin transitus a crossing over; see transient

Synonym Study

See temporary.

Example Sentences

Initially, Powell had said that the first glimmers of inflation appeared “likely to pass through fairly quickly without the need for a monetary policy response” — the very credo of Camp Transitory.

From Los Angeles Times

America wasn’t in the throes of unsustainably high consumer demand, but a temporary — call it “transitory” — spike.

From Los Angeles Times

The good ship Transitory was a crowded one, with most mainstream analysts and advanced-economy central bankers on board.

From Los Angeles Times

Let’s start with the most fundamental debate among the policymakers: whether inflation would be “transitory” or long-lasting.

From Los Angeles Times

As Fed Chair Jerome H. Powell recollected in a speech last month, “the good ship Transitory was a crowded one, with most mainstream analysts and advanced-economy central bankers on board.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ephemeral
• temporary
• transient