temporary

¹tem·po·rary

adjective \ˈtem-pə-ˌrer-ē\

Definition of TEMPORARY

: lasting for a limited time

— tem·po·rar·i·ness noun

Examples of TEMPORARY

1. The drug will give you temporary relief from the pain.
2. The delay is only temporary.
3. The settlers built temporary shelters.

Origin of TEMPORARY

Latin temporarius, from tempor-, tempus time

First Known Use: circa 1564

Related to TEMPORARY

Synonyms

ad interim, impermanent, interim, provisional, provisionary, provisory, short-term

Antonyms

long-term, permanent

Related Words

acting; alternate, proxy, substitute; expedient, improvised, makeshift; intermediary, intermediate, transitional; ephemeral, fleeting, fugitive, short-lived, transitory; conditional, contingent, limited, qualified, short-range, tentative; replaceable, terminable, terminate

Near Antonyms

final, fixed, set, settled; unconditional, unlimited, unqualified; extended, lasting, long-range, standing; dateless, deathless, endless, enduring, eternal, everlasting, immortal, perpetual, timeless, undying, unending

Rhymes with TEMPORARY

actuary, adversary, airy-fairy, ancillary, antiquary, apiary, arbitrary, aviary, axillary, bacillary, beriberi, bestiary, biliary, black raspberry, Bloody Mary, boysenberry, breviary, budgetary, calamari, calamary, candleberry, Canterbury, capillary, carpellary, cassowary, catenary, cautionary, cavitary, cemetery, centenary, certiorari, checkerberry, chinaberry, cometary, commentary, commissary, condottiere, coralberry, corollary, coronary, culinary, customary, dictionary, dietary, dignitary, dromedary, dysentery, elderberry, emissary, estuary, farkleberry, February, formulary, fragmentary, fritillary, functionary, funerary, honorary, huckleberry, intermarry, janissary, January, lamasery, lapidary, lectionary, legendary, legionary, lingonberry, literary, loganberry, luminary, mammillary, mandatary, maxillary, medullary, mercenary, miliary, military, millenary, milliary, millinery, missionary, momentary, monastery, mortuary, necessary, ordinary, ossuary, partridgeberry, pensionary, pigmentary, planetary, Pondicherry, prebendary, presbytery, pulmonary, quaternary, red mulberry, reliquary, rowanberry, salivary, salmonberry, salutary, sanctuary, sanguinary, sanitary, secondary, secretary, sedentary, seminary, silverberry, solitary, sour cherry, stationary, stationery, statuary, subcontrary, sublunary, sugarberry, sumptuary, syllabary, tertiary, thimbleberry, Tipperary, Tom and Jerry, topiary, tributary, tutelary, Typhoid Mary, unitary, urinary, vestiary, Virgin Mary, visionary, voluntary, vulnerary, Waterbury, whortleberry, winterberry

²temporary

noun

plural temporar·ies

Definition of TEMPORARY

: one serving for a limited time <adding several temporaries as typists during the summer>

First Known Use of TEMPORARY

1848

Other Business Terms

amortize, caveat emptor, clearinghouse, divest, due diligence, emolument, green-collar, marque, overhead, perquisite