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 : items (such as posters, broadsides, and tickets) originally meant to be discarded after use but that later become collectibles

Examples of ephemera in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

And so the government has spent much of its time responding to the ephemera of the news cycle rather than pursuing a clear agenda. —Oliver Eagleton, Time, 26 Nov. 2025

Among the totems, knickknacks, and ephemera in Will Shortz’s home-cum-museum, and one of his favorite items, is a copy of the 1924 book inscribed by Dick Simon and Max Schuster, sent to its source of inspiration. —Literary Hub, 25 Nov. 2025

Foulke’s early works recall Pop art and often incorporated ephemera such as postcards and vintage landscape paintings. —News Desk, Artforum, 24 Nov. 2025

The set’s first-week sales were assisted by its availability across multiple CD iterations, each including collectible paper ephemera (some randomized), alongside a standard digital download edition. —Keith Caulfield, Billboard, 16 Nov. 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