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ephemeral

e-FEM-uh-rul/ɛˈfɛ.mə.ɹəl/

Noun pluralephemerals

3 meanings of ephemeral

Practice

  1. 1
    short-livedadjective
    Lasting only a very short time, sometimes only one day.

    Fashion trends can be ephemeral and disappear in a few months.

    The happy mood was ephemeral, and soon everyone was arguing again.

    UsageIt sounds more literary than short-lived.

    Similarfleeting, transient, short-lived, momentary, passing

    Oppositelasting, permanent, enduring, eternal

    Note
  2. 2
    short-lived thingnouncountable
    Something that lasts only a short time.

    This flower is an ephemeral, so you only see it for a few days each spring.

    After the rain, the desert was full of ephemerals that were gone a week later.

Less common meaning

  1. 3
    adjective
    Describes a stream or lake that is usually dry and has water only for a short time after rain.

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Origin

It comes from a Greek word meaning "lasting only for a day", made from "on" and "day".

Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

  • Ephemeral ultimately derives from a Greek word meaning “lasting only for a day.” en.wiktionary.org
  • The Greek word is formed from elements meaning “on” and “day.” en.wiktionary.org