ephemerality

noun

ephem·​er·​al·​i·​ty i-ˌfe-mə-ˈra-lə-tē How to pronounce ephemerality (audio)
-ˌfē-
plural ephemeralities
1
ephemeralities plural : ephemeral things
2
: the quality or state of being ephemeral

Examples of ephemerality in a Sentence

a poem about the ephemerality of beauty
Recent Examples on the Web Indeterminacy, ephemerality, fluidity—these were some of the guiding principles of the Fluxus movement, which held that every moment of life had the potential to become, or to deliver, a work of art. The New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2023 Regardless of its ephemerality, the lazy girl trend still signifies an important manifestation of Gen Z’s anti-work mentality. Jane Thier, Fortune, 23 July 2023 Although they’re made of solid stuff, Konkel’s artworks are hymns to ephemerality and change. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 16 June 2023 The ephemerality of what will show up on the Explore section is a common feature of games, and is meant to keep people coming back to see what is new, said Lydia Chamberlain, a digital product designer at SADA Inc. and publisher of Master Design Blog. Ann-Marie Alcántara, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2021 Bravo’s principal interest seems to be ephemerality. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 14 Apr. 2023 Smithson’s Spiral Jetty (1970), for instance, draws on 6,000 tons of basalt rocks and earth to raise questions of entropy and ephemerality. Gracie Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 July 2021 This doesn’t bar ephemerality, though. Brian T. Allen, National Review, 22 Aug. 2020 However, the size and reach of TikTok, along with the rapid-fire nature of its short-form content and its ever-adjusting algorithm, are contributing to the ephemerality of digital trends. Aj Willingham, CNN, 2 Apr. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ephemerality.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1822, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ephemerality was in 1822

Dictionary Entries Near ephemerality

Cite this Entry

“Ephemerality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ephemerality. Accessed 4 Oct. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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