What does temporary mean?
Temporary means that something exists, continues, or is intended to last only for a short time. It is used for arrangements, solutions, jobs, accommodation, and conditions that are brief rather than permanent, often implying that a longer-term plan may be needed. In professional and formal contexts, “temporary measure” can signal that a decision has been made for expedience or to address an immediate problem. The word is also used informally as a noun for a short-term employee, although “temp” is more usual. Temporary can describe something lasting days, months, or any limited period, so it does not specify an exact duration. Its usefulness lies in distinguishing a short-lived situation from one intended to endure, without implying that the situation is necessarily unsatisfactory or unimportant.
Existing or continuing for only a short time; brief, transient, or not permanent.
"The road closure is temporary and should be lifted by the end of the week."
This is the standard and dominant use. It is appropriate in both formal and informal contexts.
A person employed for a short period, especially to provide temporary staff cover or replace an absent employee.
"The hospital brought in extra temporaries during the winter surge."
Informal and less common than the noun “temp,” especially in British English.
Used for the plural of the informal noun; “temps” is more common in everyday speech.
"The office hired three temporaries for the project."
Temporary comes from the Latin tempus, meaning “time”: it literally means “of or lasting only for the time” — a reminder that temporary is defined by its limits.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does temporary come from?
Temporary was borrowed into English from Latin temporarius, meaning “lasting only for a time” or “provisional,” a word derived from tempus, “time.” The same Latin root underlies temporal, temporize, contemporaneity, and temporality, reflecting the shared idea of time or temporal duration.
Related word forms
How temporary is actually used
As an adjective, temporary is neutral and widely used in formal, professional, and everyday contexts. It can sometimes suggest that a solution is only a short-term measure, often with the implication that a more permanent arrangement is still needed. As a noun, it is informal and is less common than the shortened form “temp.”
Easily confused with temporary
Temporary is an adjective describing something that lasts for a short time, while temporarily is an adverb describing an action performed for a short time.