per·ma·nent
ˈpər-mə-nənt 
ˈpərm-nənt
1
: continuing or enduring without fundamental or marked change : stable
the museum's permanent art collection
an accident causing permanent injury
2
a
: not easily removed, washed away, or erased : indelible sense 1a
permanent stains
b
: making marks that cannot easily be removed : indelible sense 1b
labeling boxes with permanent markers
permanentness
noun
: a long-lasting hair wave produced by mechanical and chemical means
called also permanent wave
Synonyms
Examples of permanent in a Sentence
Adjective
She made a permanent home in this country.
Prolonged exposure to the sun can cause permanent skin damage.
The museum's permanent collection includes works of art from the 18th century.
The transcripts will serve as a permanent record of the proceedings.
Recent Examples on the Web
Eve Chen, USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024
Methode’s board has started the search process for a permanent replacement, and has appointed David Rawden, a director at consulting firm AlixPartners, as interim CFO.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2024
Most of that came from $21 million in state Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention grants and $22 million earmarked under a permanent housing program.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2024
More than six months into the war and with little sign of a permanent ceasefire, some Muslim American communities aren’t much in the mood for an elaborate Eid celebration.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
The school did not have a full-time school resource officer, second-grade classrooms did not have doors or permanent walls, and the front-door buzzer was broken for weeks, which prevented police officers from quickly entering the school after the shooting.
—Justin Jouvenal, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
The two horses ended up in the permanent care of Dogwood Farm proprietor Diane Wood when a man boarding a herd of 17 horses removed 15 and abandoned Beja and Stone.
—Alexandra Rockey Fleming, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
Their names and handprints will be added to Legends Plaza for permanent display.
—Jennifer Dixon, Detroit Free Press, 9 Apr. 2024
Article after article quotes very serious scientists claiming that glancing up at an eclipse for only a few seconds could cause permanent eye damage.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2024
Ashraf Ghani, Foreign Affairs, 4 May 2021
Men’s basketball: Colin Castleton injury (5:10) Football: Texas & Oklahoma early jump to SEC (8:47) 3 permanents?
—Orlando Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2023
The company is also making two other benefits created during the pandemic permanent: the $240 annual entertainment credit towards services like NBC's Peacock or The New York Times, and the $300 annual credit toward an Equinox gym membership or digital fitness class subscription.
—Ken Sweet, Star Tribune, 1 July 2021
If hotness is an effort to make the ephemeral permanent, then illness is a constant reminder of how nothing is forever.
—Michelle Santiago Cortés, refinery29.com, 26 June 2021
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency is working on making three Slow Streets closed to through traffic during the pandemic permanent: Page, Shotwell and Sanchez streets.
—Mallory Moench, San Francisco Chronicle, 2 Feb. 2021
The salon’s services include coloring, permanents, hairstyling, highlights and shampoos.
—Vincent T. Davis, ExpressNews.com, 22 Mar. 2020
Turning loanee signings into permanents has been of top priority.
—SI.com, 12 July 2018
The decision makes permanent an earlier injunction that had temporarily blocked the law.
—Washington Post, 18 June 2018
Adjective
Certain groups like military service members, veterans, and U.S. citizens and permanent residents with permanent disabilities are eligible for free entry any time of year.
—Eve Chen, USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024
Methode’s board has started the search process for a permanent replacement, and has appointed David Rawden, a director at consulting firm AlixPartners, as interim CFO.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2024
Most of that came from $21 million in state Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention grants and $22 million earmarked under a permanent housing program.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2024
More than six months into the war and with little sign of a permanent ceasefire, some Muslim American communities aren’t much in the mood for an elaborate Eid celebration.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
The school did not have a full-time school resource officer, second-grade classrooms did not have doors or permanent walls, and the front-door buzzer was broken for weeks, which prevented police officers from quickly entering the school after the shooting.
—Justin Jouvenal, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
The two horses ended up in the permanent care of Dogwood Farm proprietor Diane Wood when a man boarding a herd of 17 horses removed 15 and abandoned Beja and Stone.
—Alexandra Rockey Fleming, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
Their names and handprints will be added to Legends Plaza for permanent display.
—Jennifer Dixon, Detroit Free Press, 9 Apr. 2024
Article after article quotes very serious scientists claiming that glancing up at an eclipse for only a few seconds could cause permanent eye damage.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2024
Noun
There is always a temptation to make the temporary permanent, which is why the peace government must prioritize elections.
—Ashraf Ghani, Foreign Affairs, 4 May 2021
Men’s basketball: Colin Castleton injury (5:10) Football: Texas & Oklahoma early jump to SEC (8:47) 3 permanents?
—Orlando Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2023
The company is also making two other benefits created during the pandemic permanent: the $240 annual entertainment credit towards services like NBC's Peacock or The New York Times, and the $300 annual credit toward an Equinox gym membership or digital fitness class subscription.
—Ken Sweet, Star Tribune, 1 July 2021
If hotness is an effort to make the ephemeral permanent, then illness is a constant reminder of how nothing is forever.
—Michelle Santiago Cortés, refinery29.com, 26 June 2021
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency is working on making three Slow Streets closed to through traffic during the pandemic permanent: Page, Shotwell and Sanchez streets.
—Mallory Moench, San Francisco Chronicle, 2 Feb. 2021
The salon’s services include coloring, permanents, hairstyling, highlights and shampoos.
—Vincent T. Davis, ExpressNews.com, 22 Mar. 2020
Turning loanee signings into permanents has been of top priority.
—SI.com, 12 July 2018
The decision makes permanent an earlier injunction that had temporarily blocked the law.
—Washington Post, 18 June 2018
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'permanent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English, from Anglo-French parmanant, from Latin permanent-, permanens, present participle of permanēre to endure, from per- throughout + manēre to remain — more at per-, mansion
First Known Use
Adjective
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
1925, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of permanent was
in the 15th century
Phrases Containing permanent
Articles Related to permanent
Dictionary Entries Near permanent
Cite this Entry
“Permanent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/permanent. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
permanent
1 of 2 adjective
per·ma·nent
ˈpərm(-ə)-nənt
: lasting or intended to last for a very long time : not temporary or changing
permanence
noun
-nən(t)s
permanency
noun
-nən-sē
permanently
adverb
permanentness
noun
permanent
2 of 2 noun
: a long-lasting hair wave produced by mechanical and chemical means
Medical Definition
permanent
adjective
per·ma·nent
ˈpərm(-ə)-nənt
: of, relating to, or being a permanent tooth
permanent dentition
More from Merriam-Webster on permanent
Nglish: Translation of permanent for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of permanent for Arabic Speakers
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