ephemeral

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/ɪˈfemərəl/
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A brief existence, usually as an adjective for something short-lived, with technical uses for temporary natural features and a noun use for short-lived things.
Practice using this word in conversation

Examples

  • The rainbow was beautiful but ephemeral.
  • Mayflies are often used as examples of ephemeral adult life.
  • The guide pointed out several ephemerals along the trail.
  • Their victory brought an ephemeral sense of relief.
  • Online fame can be surprisingly ephemeral.

Similar words

fleeting thing
fleeting
transient
short-lived
passing
short-lived
short-lived thing
spring flower
brief
temporary

Meanings

Lasting briefly

adjective
time
formal
Existing or lasting for only a very short time.

Usage

Use ephemeral for things, feelings, fame, beauty, trends, or experiences that pass quickly.

Examples

  • The rainbow was beautiful but ephemeral.
  • Online fame can be surprisingly ephemeral.
  • The artist tried to capture the ephemeral glow of dusk.
  • Their victory brought an ephemeral sense of relief.
  • Many fashion trends are deliberately ephemeral.

Common mistakes

The word is used for anything temporary, even when the period is ordinary rather than strikingly brief.
IncorrectCorrect
The five-year contract was ephemeral. The five-year contract was temporary.
Her happiness was ephemeral for a lifetime. Her happiness was lifelong.
The moment was very ephemerally. The moment was very ephemeral.

Similar words

fleeting
brief
transient
temporary
short-lived
momentary

Short-lived in nature

adjective
nature
technical
Living, blooming, flowing, or remaining active for a very short time, especially for plants, insects, streams, or pools.

Usage

Use ephemeral in natural science for life cycles, blooms, watercourses, or conditions that appear briefly and then vanish or go dormant.

Examples

  • Desert storms can create ephemeral pools.
  • Some spring flowers are ephemeral, blooming before the trees leaf out.
  • The map marks several ephemeral streams in the valley.
  • Mayflies are often used as examples of ephemeral adult life.
  • The reserve protects an ephemeral wetland that appears after heavy rain.

Common mistakes

The technical sense is confused with merely seasonal or intermittent things.
IncorrectCorrect
The river is ephemeral because it flows every spring for months. The river is seasonal because it flows every spring for months.
The oak tree is ephemeral. The spring flower is ephemeral.
The pond ephemeral after the storm. The pond was ephemeral after the storm.

Similar words

short-lived
temporary
transient
brief
seasonal
passing

Short-lived thing

noun
nature
technical
A thing that lasts briefly, especially a plant that grows, flowers, and dies or becomes dormant quickly.

Usage

Use ephemeral as a noun mainly in technical or nature writing, often for short-lived spring plants.

Examples

  • Bloodroot is one of the spring ephemerals in the woods.
  • The guide pointed out several ephemerals along the trail.
  • Collectors sometimes preserve paper ephemerals from old events.
  • Each ephemeral appeared after the rain and vanished within days.
  • The garden was designed around early ephemerals and later perennials.

Common mistakes

The noun is used where the adjective form is expected.
IncorrectCorrect
The flowers were ephemerals beauty. The flowers had ephemeral beauty.
The painting was an ephemeral because it was small. The painting was small.
Several ephemeral bloomed in April. Several ephemerals bloomed in April.

Similar words

short-lived thing
transient
spring flower
temporary item
ephemeron
fleeting thing

Usage

Use ephemeral when the shortness of life, attention, beauty, or presence is important, not just when something is temporary.

Common mistakes

Long temporary periods are called ephemeral when temporary or short-term would be more accurate.

Etymology

From Greek ephēmeros, meaning lasting a day or daily, formed from elements meaning on or for and day. English first used it for short-lived fevers and later for plants, insects, and fleeting things.

FAQ

What does ephemeral mean?

Ephemeral means lasting for only a very short time.

Is ephemeral formal?

Yes. Ephemeral is more formal than short-lived or temporary, though it is common in art, nature, and technology writing.

Can ephemeral be a noun?

Yes. An ephemeral is something short-lived, especially a plant that appears briefly.

What are ephemeral flowers?

Ephemeral flowers are flowers that bloom or remain active for a short time, often early in a season.

Where does ephemeral come from?

Ephemeral comes from a Greek word meaning lasting a day or daily.

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