permanent

[ pur-muh-nuhnt ]
/ ˈpɜr mə nənt /

adjective

existing perpetually; everlasting, especially without significant change.
intended to exist or function for a long, indefinite period without regard to unforeseeable conditions: a permanent employee; the permanent headquarters of the United Nations.
long-lasting or nonfading: permanent pleating; permanent ink.

noun

Also called permanent wave. a wave or curl that is set into the hair by the application of a special chemical preparation and that remains for a number of months.

Origin of permanent

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin permanent- (stem of permanēns), present participle of permanēre to remain. See per-, remain, -ent

SYNONYMS FOR permanent

1 stable, invariable, constant.

ANTONYMS FOR permanent

1 temporary; inconstant.

OTHER WORDS FROM permanent

Words nearby permanent

permafrost table, permalink, permalloy, permanence, permanency, permanent, permanent cartilage, permanent court of arbitration, permanent dentition, permanent echo, permanent hardness

British Dictionary definitions for nonpermanent (1 of 2)

nonpermanent
/ (nɒnˈpɜːmənənt) /

adjective

not existing or intended to exist for an indefinite time

British Dictionary definitions for nonpermanent (2 of 2)

permanent
/ (ˈpɜːmənənt) /

adjective

existing or intended to exist for an indefinite period a permanent structure
not expected to change for an indefinite time; not temporary a permanent condition

Derived forms of permanent

permanently, adverb

Word Origin for permanent

C15: from Latin permanens continuing, from permanēre to stay to the end, from per- through + manēre to remain