ephemera

noun

ephem·​era i-ˈfe-mə-rə 

-ˈfem-rə

plural ephemera also ephemerae i-ˈfe-mə-rē 

-ˈfem-rē

or ephemeras

1

: something of no lasting significance

—usually used in plural

2

ephemera plural : paper items (such as posters, broadsides, and tickets) that were originally meant to be discarded after use but have since become collectibles

Examples of ephemera in a Sentence

He has a large collection of old menus and other ephemera.

Recent Examples on the Web

The tour of the Zorn House interior reveals all sorts of surprises, including the Great Room that’s decorated with ephemera from his around-the-world travels, including a cabinet with Etrusian artifacts. —Jeanine Barone, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025

And the California History Room is a treasure trove of maps, documents and fascinating ephemera related to the state’s history. —Linda Zavoral, The Mercury News, 24 Mar. 2025

Accompanying the photos is an installation of contemporaneous ephemera, as well as excerpts of cinema verité-style footage of the band recorded by filmmakers Albert and David Maysles, who were granted access to document the group during their first U.S. visit in February 1964. —Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2025

Woven around these, the story is told by 30 items of archival ephemera, including original bottles, heritage products, packaging, and artworks. —Gemma A. Williams, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek ephēmera, neuter plural of ephēmeros

First Known Use

1650, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for ephemera

• femora