transience

noun

tran·​sience ˈtran(t)-sh(ē-)ən(t)s  ˈtran-zē-ən(t)s 

ˈtran(t)-sē-;

ˈtran-zhən(t)s, 

-jən(t)s

: the quality or state of being transient

Synonyms of transience

• shortness
• impermanence
• temporariness
• transiency
• ephemerality
• transitoriness
• evanescence
• fleetingness
• impermanency

Examples of transience in a Sentence

the transience of spring in northern climates means residents get to enjoy temperate weather only briefly before the heat and humidity of summer set in

Recent Examples on the Web

This transience helps The Darling stay fresh, allowing guests to engage with works at the cutting-edge of the Danish art scene. —Stephanie Gavan, Vogue, 9 Jan. 2026

The bond between [the lead characters] is a prism through which to experience both the transience and the permanence of what matters most to us in life. —Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026

Almost 40 years after the movie charmed both critics and viewers, Stand by Me continues to remind audiences of the transience of youth and the importance of friends. —Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Dec. 2025

The clink of cutlery and the hiss of the grill, the clouds of steam rising off plates, the heady chaos that comes with a place of public convening, a destination as much as a place of transience. —Hazlitt, 10 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1739, in the meaning defined above