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 demand for the ephemera of genius might be viewed as an update on the medieval crowds who flocked to the (various) churches that claimed to have the foreskin of Christ. —S. C. Cornell, New Yorker, 16 June 2025

At the same time, archival collections have meticulously preserved their letters, diaries, and other ephemera for researchers to explore. —The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 2 Apr. 2025

In total, more than 70 artworks by 35 prominent African American artists, as well as ephemera from the Driskell Papers, exemplify the artists’ unique friendships. —Chadd Scott, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025

As for Ella, she is inspired by vintage travel ephemera, offering screen prints that pay tribute to the Golden Age of travel, recreating the bold graphics and typography of that era. —Felicity Carter, Forbes.com, 3 May 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