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

Origin of TEMPORARY

Latin temporarius, from tempor-, tempus time

First Known Use: circa 1564

Related to TEMPORARY

Synonyms: ad interim, impermanent, interim, provisional, provisionary, provisory, short-term

Antonyms: long-term, permanent

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

amortize, caveat emptor, clearinghouse, divest, due diligence, emolument, green-collar, marque, overhead, perquisite

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.