What does impermanence mean?
Impermanence means the quality of being temporary, unstable, or unable to endure permanently. It may describe the brief existence of an individual object, but it is also used for larger principles, such as the changing character of nature or the eventual passing away of all living beings. In general philosophical writing, impermanence emphasizes the limits of permanence and the continuous processes of change, decay, and renewal. In Buddhist thought it is a fundamental principle: conditioned phenomena arise, change, and eventually pass away, so clinging to them as permanent is a source of suffering. The word has a contemplative rather than merely practical tone and is often associated with art and meditation. For everyday speech about something lasting only briefly, “transience” is generally more natural, while “impermanence” is especially appropriate when the speaker is reflecting on change as a universal condition.
nounThe quality of not being permanent or enduring; the state of being temporary or subject to change. It is especially associated with philosophical and Buddhist discussions of change, decay, and the transience of existence.
- The quality or state of not being permanent, especially through natural change, aging, decay, or the passage of time.
"The changing installation offers a meditation on the impermanence of natural forms."
"Her photographs use fading light to evoke the impermanence of human experience."
"The doctrine of impermanence holds that all conditioned things change and eventually cease to exist."
The regular plural is rare because the singular abstract noun is much more common.
"The essay considers the impermanences of beauty, memory, and human life."
Impermanence turns a familiar truth into a central idea: nothing remains exactly as it is.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does impermanence come from?
Impermanence was formed in the early 19th century from the combining form “im-,” meaning “not,” and “permanence,” which in turn derives from Latin permanere, “to remain” or “to stay.” The Latin verb was built from the prefix per-, meaning “thoroughly” or “forward,” and manere, “to remain.” The resulting family includes permanent, permanence, impermanent, and impermanently.
Related word forms
How impermanence is actually used
This is a formal and relatively uncommon noun. It occurs especially in philosophical, religious, and artistic contexts, while less technical language often uses transience or temporariness.
Easily confused with impermanence
Impermanence means the quality of being temporary or changing, whereas permanence means the quality of remaining or enduring.