ephemeral

[ ih-fem-er-uhl ]
/ ɪˈfɛm ər əl /

adjective

lasting a very short time; short-lived; transitory: the ephemeral joys of childhood.
lasting but one day: an ephemeral flower.

noun

anything short-lived, as certain insects.

Origin of ephemeral

1570–80; < Greek ephḗmer(os) short-lived, lasting but a day ( ep- ep- + hēmér(a) day + -os adj. suffix) + -al1

OTHER WORDS FROM ephemeral

Example sentences from the Web for ephemeral

British Dictionary definitions for ephemeral

ephemeral
/ (ɪˈfɛmərəl) /

adjective

lasting for only a short time; transitory; short-lived ephemeral pleasure

noun

a short-lived organism, such as the mayfly
a plant that completes its life cycle in less than one year, usually less than six months

Derived forms of ephemeral

ephemerally, adverb ephemerality or ephemeralness, noun

Word Origin for ephemeral

C16: from Greek ephēmeros lasting only a day, from hēmera day