temporary

[ tem-puh-rer-ee ]
/ ˈtɛm pəˌrɛr i /

adjective

lasting, existing, serving, or effective for a time only; not permanent: a temporary need; a temporary job.

noun, plural tem·po·rar·ies.

an office worker hired, usually through an agency on a per diem basis, for a short period of time.

Origin of temporary

1540–50; < Latin temporārius, equivalent to tempor- (stem of tempus) time + -ārius -ary

SYNONYMS FOR temporary

1 impermanent, passing. Temporary, transient, transitory agree in referring to that which is not lasting or permanent. Temporary implies an arrangement established with no thought of continuance but with the idea of being changed soon: a temporary structure. Transient describes that which is in the process of passing by, and which will therefore last or stay only a short time: a transient condition. Transitory describes an innate characteristic by which a thing, by its very nature, lasts only a short time: Life is transitory.

OTHER WORDS FROM temporary

Example sentences from the Web for temporarily

British Dictionary definitions for temporarily

temporary
/ (ˈtɛmpərərɪ, ˈtɛmprərɪ) /

adjective

not permanent; provisional temporary accommodation
lasting only a short time; transitory temporary relief from pain

noun plural -raries

a person, esp a secretary or other office worker, employed on a temporary basis Often shortened to: temp

Derived forms of temporary

temporarily, adverb temporariness, noun

Word Origin for temporary

C16: from Latin temporārius, from tempus time