Agency Dictionary

Ephemeral

adjectivePronunciation: /ɪˈfɛm.ər.əl/

In Portuguese: Efêmero

Philosophy & Ethics

What does “Ephemeral” mean?

Lasting for only a very brief period of time; fleeting, transitory, or impermanent in nature.

Etymology

From New Latin ephemerus, from Greek ephemeros, "lasting only a day", formed from epi ("on") and hemera ("day"), with the English suffix -al. The word appears in the 16th century in medicine, for a fever that passes in a day, and in natural history, for insects and flowers of very short life. The general sense of anything brief and passing followed in the 17th century.

Usage note

The noun ephemera names printed things made for brief use, such as tickets, flyers and posters, that collectors later keep.

Synonyms

fleeting
transient
transitory
short-lived
momentary
evanescent

Often confused with

ethereal: Ethereal means delicate and light, as if not of this world; ephemeral means lasting a very short time.

Word family

ephemerality
ephemerally
ephemera
ephemeris

Concept

Economic CycleAn economic cycle, or business cycle, is the recurring fluctuation of overall economic activity between periods of expansion and periods of contraction over time. It…

Source editions

Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.

Words of the same theme

Antithesisnoun: A person, thing, or concept that represents the direct or exact opposite of another.
Discursiveadjective: Proceeding by reasoned argument or sequential exposition rather than by immediate visual intuition.
Treatisenoun: A formal, systematic, and comprehensive written work dealing methodically with the principles and evidence of a particular philosophical, scientific, or technical subject.
Maximnoun: A concise statement expressing a fundamental principle, general truth, or practical rule of conduct.
rhetoricnoun: The art of effective and persuasive speaking or writing, especially through strategic linguistic devices.
Tangibleadjective: Perceptible by the sense of touch or capable of being physically grasped and measured in concrete physical reality. It distinguishes concrete material products from virtual or intellectual entities.
Holisticadjective: Characterized by the comprehension of parts as intimately interconnected and explicable only in reference to the whole.
Abyssnoun: A deep or seemingly bottomless chasm, either in physical geography or metaphorical psychological depth. It evokes feelings of unfathomable emptiness or existential peril.
aestheticsnoun: A set of principles concerned with the nature and appreciation of beauty, artistic taste, and style.
Affectnoun: An expressed or experienced emotion, feeling, or visceral response to a stimulus in psychology and philosophy.
Agapenoun: A selfless, unconditional, and altruistic form of love often associated in theology with divine charity.
Ambiguitynoun: The quality of being open to more than one interpretation; inexactness or uncertainty of meaning.

Also from these editions: terms

Superfluousadjective: Exceeding what is sufficient, necessary, or useful.
Monoclenoun: A single eyeglass lens designed to correct or enhance vision in one eye, held in place by the facial muscles around the eye socket.
Pollinationnoun: The transfer of pollen grains from the male anther to the female stigma of a flower, enabling fertilization and seed production.
Agoranoun: A public open space in ancient Greek cities used for assemblies, commercial markets, and philosophical dialogue.
Ambiguousadjective: Open to more than one interpretation; lacking definitive clarity or certainty in meaning, intention, or moral alignment.
Anesthetizeverb: To administer an anesthetic to eliminate physical feeling, or figuratively to numb emotional or critical awareness.
Arrogancenoun: An offensive display of superiority, self-importance, or overbearing pride that disparages others and their contributions.
Bailoutnoun: An emergency provision of financial assistance to a failing company, bank, or economy to prevent insolvency.
Chitonnoun: A draped garment or tunic worn by men and women in ancient Greece, usually fastened at the shoulders by brooches.
Compassionnoun: Deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the genuine desire to alleviate their distress and provide solace.
Deflationaryadjective: Tending to cause or associated with a general and persistent decline in price levels across an economy.
Dignitynoun: The quality of being worthy of honor, esteem, and ethical respect; a composed, self-respecting conduct under adversity.