temporality

noun

tem·​po·​ral·​i·​ty ˌtem-pə-ˈra-lə-tē 

plural temporalities

1

a

: civil or political as distinguished from spiritual or ecclesiastical power or authority

b

: an ecclesiastical property or revenue

—often used in plural

2

: the quality or state of being temporal

Examples of temporality in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Instead of resisting the fleeting nature of experiences, try to fully immerse yourself in them, knowing that their temporality adds to their beauty and significance. —Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025

But, on Wednesday, the president reversed course and temporality paused most of the tariffs, prompting the markets to spring back to life. —Filip Timotija, The Hill, 12 Apr. 2025

Temporal dislocation—the sensation of experiencing multiple temporalities at once—can be felt inside three galleries of New York’s Americas Society /Council of the Americas, now host to the latest collaboration of Beatriz Cortez and rafa esparza. —Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 25 Mar. 2025

The word has since been widely embraced and discussed by critics as a way of talking about the multiple temporalities and complex hauntologies of the Northeast, and by extension modern China. —Philip Tinari, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English temperalte, temporalte, temporalyte (in plural or collective) "worldly matters, secular authority," borrowed from Anglo-French temporalté, temporalité, borrowed from Late Latin temporālitāt-, temporālitās "temporary character, duration of the present time," from Latin temporālis temporal entry 1 + -itāt-, -itās -ity

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for temporality

• abnormality
• cardinality
• commonality
• communality
• cordiality
• corporeality
• criminality
• criticality
• functionality
• generality
• geniality
• hospitality