First Known Use: circa 1564
Dictionary
1temporary
adjective tem·po·rary \ˈtem-pə-ˌrer-ē\
: continuing for a limited amount of time : not permanent
: intended to be used for a limited amount of time
Full Definition of TEMPORARY
: lasting for a limited time
— tem·po·rar·i·ness noun
See temporary defined for English-language learners
See temporary defined for kids
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Examples of TEMPORARY
- The drug will give you temporary relief from the pain.
- The delay is only temporary.
- The settlers built temporary shelters.
Origin of TEMPORARY
Latin temporarius, from tempor-, tempus time
Related to TEMPORARY
- Synonyms
- ad interim, impermanent, interim, provisional, provisionary, provisory, short-term
Rhymes with TEMPORARY
actuary, adversary, airy-fairy, ancillary, antiquary, apiary, arbitrary, aviary, axillary, bacillary, beriberi, bestiary, biliary, black raspberry, Bloody Mary, boysenberry, breviary, budgetary, calamari, calamary, candleberry, Canterbury, capillary, carpellary, cassowary, catenary, cautionary, cavitary, cemetery, centenary, certiorari, checkerberry, chinaberry, cometary, commentary, commissary, condottiere, coralberry, corollary, coronary, culinary, customary, dictionary, dietary, dignitary, dromedary, dysentery, elderberry, emissary, estuary, farkleberry, February, formulary, fragmentary, fritillary, functionary, funerary, honorary, huckleberry, intermarry, janissary, January, lamasery, lapidary, lectionary, legendary, legionary, lingonberry, literary, loganberry, luminary, mammillary, mandatary, maxillary, medullary, mercenary, miliary, military, millenary, milliary, millinery, missionary, momentary, monastery, mortuary, necessary, ordinary, ossuary, partridgeberry, pensionary, pigmentary, planetary, Pondicherry, prebendary, presbytery, pulmonary, quaternary, red mulberry, reliquary, rowanberry, salivary, salmonberry, salutary, sanctuary, sanguinary, sanitary, secondary, secretary, sedentary, seminary, silverberry, solitary, sour cherry, stationary, stationery, statuary, subcontrary, sublunary, sugarberry, sumptuary, syllabary, tertiary, thimbleberry, Tipperary, Tom and Jerry, topiary, tributary, tutelary, Typhoid Mary, unitary, urinary, vestiary, Virgin Mary, visionary, voluntary, vulnerary, Waterbury, whortleberry, winterberry
2temporary
noun
plural temporar·ies
Definition of TEMPORARY
: one serving for a limited time <adding several temporaries as typists during the summer>
First Known Use of TEMPORARY
1848
Other Business Terms
TEMPORARY Defined for Kids
temporary
adjective tem·po·rary \ˈtem-pə-ˌrer-ē\
Definition of TEMPORARY for Kids
: not permanent <We performed on a temporary stage.>
— tem·po·rar·i·ly \ˌtem-pə-ˈrer-ə-lē\ adverb
Word Root of TEMPORARY
The Latin word tempus, meaning “time,”and its form temporis give us the roots temp and tempor. Words from the Latin tempus have something to do with time. Something temporary lasts only a short time. Someone or something contemporary lives or occurs at the same time as someone or something else. A tempo is the speed at which music is performed in time.
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