transitory

adjective

tran·​si·​to·​ry ˈtran(t)-sə-ˌtȯr-ē How to pronounce transitory (audio) ˈtran-zə- How to pronounce transitory (audio)
1
: of brief duration : temporary
the transitory nature of earthly joy
2
: tending to pass away : not persistent
transitorily adverb
transitoriness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for transitory

transient, transitory, ephemeral, momentary, fugitive, fleeting, evanescent mean lasting or staying only a short time.

transient applies to what is actually short in its duration or stay.

a hotel catering primarily to transient guests

transitory applies to what is by its nature or essence bound to change, pass, or come to an end.

fame in the movies is transitory

ephemeral implies striking brevity of life or duration.

many slang words are ephemeral

momentary suggests coming and going quickly and therefore being merely a brief interruption of a more enduring state.

my feelings of guilt were only momentary

fugitive and fleeting imply passing so quickly as to make apprehending difficult.

let a fugitive smile flit across his face
fleeting moments of joy

evanescent suggests a quick vanishing and an airy or fragile quality.

the story has an evanescent touch of whimsy that is lost in translation

Examples of transitory in a Sentence

the transitory nature of earthly pleasures
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But also, in Spanish, there’s two verbs for being: permanent and transitory. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2024 Hedonic happiness, which is tied to experiencing pleasurable emotions and sensations, is transitory and ultimately elusive, says Hood. Sara Harrison, WIRED, 24 Mar. 2022 At least for now, inflation does indeed seem transitory. Sebastian Mallaby, Foreign Affairs, 30 June 2021 The list of potential side effects is long, though most are minor and transitory. Emma Whitford, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for transitory 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English transitorie, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin transitorius, from Latin, of or allowing passage, from transire

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of transitory was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near transitory

Cite this Entry

“Transitory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/transitory. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

transitory

adjective
tran·​si·​to·​ry ˈtran(t)s-ə-ˌtōr-ē How to pronounce transitory (audio) ˈtranz- How to pronounce transitory (audio)
-ˌtȯr-
: lasting only a short time : short-lived, temporary
transitorily
ˌtran(t)s-ə-ˈtōr-ə-lē How to pronounce transitory (audio)
ˌtranz-
-ˈtȯr-
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on transitory

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