persistence

[ per-sis-tuhns, -zis- ]

noun

1. the act or fact of persisting.
2. the quality of being persistent:

   You have persistence, I'll say that for you.

3. continued existence or occurrence:

   the persistence of smallpox.

4. the continuance of an effect after its cause is removed.

persistence

/ pəˈsɪstəns /

noun

1. the quality of persisting; tenacity
2. the act of persisting; continued effort or existence
3. the continuance of an effect after the cause of it has stopped

   persistence of vision

Other Words From

• nonper·sistence noun
• nonper·sisten·cy noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of persistence¹

First recorded in 1540–50; persist + -ence

Synonym Study

See perseverance.

Example Sentences

It is Columbo’s persistence and continued presence that Lawson taps into.

From Los Angeles Times

"At least the old system rewarded persistence," observed a user on Reddit.

From BBC

Now, researchers have taken a fresh look at the club to see what its persistence says about us as a society.

From Los Angeles Times

“The continuous movement of populations, security challenges in high-risk areas, and persistent vaccine hesitancy all contribute to the persistence of the virus,” Melissa Corkum, the chief of Unicef polio team in Pakistan, told the BBC.

From BBC

At every turn, it seems that his life was one of constant struggle, defiance and persistence.

From BBC

Related Words

• endurance
• grit
• perseverance
• stamina
• tenacity