temporal

¹ American  

[tem-per-uhl, tem-pruhl] / ˈtɛm pər əl, ˈtɛm prəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to time.

2. pertaining to or concerned with the present life or this world; worldly.

   temporal joys.

3. enduring for a time only; temporary; transitory (opposed to eternal).

4. Grammar.

   1. of, relating to, or expressing time.

      a temporal adjective, such as recent, or a temporal adverb, such as recently.

   2. of or relating to the tenses of a verb.

5. secular, lay, or civil, as opposed to ecclesiastical.

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noun

1. a temporal possession, estate, or the like; temporality.

2. something that is temporal; a temporal matter or affair.

temporal ² American  

[tem-per-uhl, tem-pruhl] / ˈtɛm pər əl, ˈtɛm prəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or situated near the temple or a temporal bone.

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noun

1. any of several parts in the temporal region, especially the temporal bone.

temporal ¹ British  

/ ˈtɛmpərəl, ˈtɛmprəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to time

2. of or relating to secular as opposed to spiritual or religious affairs

   the lords spiritual and temporal

3. lasting for a relatively short time

4. grammar of or relating to tense or the linguistic expression of time in general

   a temporal adverb

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temporal ² British  

/ ˈtɛmpərəl, ˈtɛmprəl /

adjective

1. anatomy of, relating to, or near the temple or temples

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temporal Scientific  

/ tĕm′pər-əl /

1. Relating to or near the bones that form the sides and part of the base of the skull.

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Other Word Forms

• temporally
  adverb
• temporalness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of temporal¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English (adjective and noun) from Latin temporālis, equivalent to tempor- (stem of tempus ) “time” + -ālis adjective suffix; see -al ¹

Origin of temporal²

First recorded in 1535–45; from Late Latin temporālis, equivalent to tempor- (stem of tempus ) temple ² + -ālis -al ¹

Explanation

Our time on earth is limited, or temporal. Temporal comes from the Latin word temporalis which means "of time" and is usually applied to words that mean not having much of it, such as the temp who works at an office for a set amount of time, because temporary situations don't last long. A less common word, temporality also means "having limited time," and it rhymes with mortality! (Don't remind us.) Temporal implies "of this earth," too — temporal boundaries keep us from being able to fly around the clouds, but spiritual beings can zing around at will. Temporal can also refer to temples, the ones on the side of your head that are probably aching by now.

Example Sentences

Another of her favorite techniques is shifting temporal perspective.

From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026

This next step would allow spectral and temporal information to be captured separately, significantly expanding the range of applications and improving the overall versatility of the technology.

From Science Daily • Apr. 21, 2026

In the film, the temporal correlation between increased use of plastics and decreasing sperm count is presented as causative.

From Slate • Apr. 16, 2026

"One of Monaco's distinctive features is a kind of positive secularism, which recognises the legitimate autonomy of the spiritual and temporal spheres," Guillaume Paris, a senior clergyman in Monaco, told AFP.

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

If she is weighing temporal against spiritual values, it can be only in a symbolic sense, because nothing about the figure or the setting betrays a sense of conflict.

From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson

Related Words

• earthly
• materialistic
• physical
• sensual