permanent
PUR-muh-nuhnt
Permanent (adj) means lasting forever or for an indefinitely long time, without a planned end. Example: “The injury left him with permanent nerve damage.”
adj
1
Lasting forever or for an indefinitely long time, without a planned end.
"The countries are now locked in a permanent state of conflict."
"The injury left him with permanent nerve damage."
"She was offered a permanent contract after her trial period."
"Moving abroad was meant to be a temporary plan, but it became permanent."
How to use permanent
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLasting indefinitely, as opposed to temporary.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
permanent damage
permanent resident
permanent job
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Word forms
- Plural
- permanents
- Third person singular
- permanents
- Past tense
- permanented
- Comparative
- more permanent
- Superlative
- most permanent
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The injury left him with _____ nerve damage.
Etymology
From Latin permanens, from permanere ("to stay through, endure").
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “permanent” mean?
The word “permanent” means lasting forever or for an indefinitely long time, without a planned end. In plain terms, lasting indefinitely, as opposed to temporary.
How do you pronounce “permanent”?
“Permanent” is pronounced PUR-muh-nuhnt (/ˈpɜɹ.mə.nənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “permanent” in a sentence?
Here is “permanent” used in a sentence: “The injury left him with permanent nerve damage.”
What is another word for “permanent”?
Words with a similar meaning to “permanent” include forever, never-ending, unending, endless and intransient.
What is the opposite of “permanent”?
The opposite of “permanent” — its antonyms — are impermanent and temporary.
What part of speech is “permanent”?
“Permanent” is an adjective.
Where does the word “permanent” come from?
The word “permanent” comes from Latin. From Latin permanens, from permanere ("to stay through, endure").
Is “permanent” a common word?
“Permanent” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between permanent and temporary?
Permanent means lasting indefinitely, with no planned end — a permanent job, a permanent change. Temporary means lasting only for a limited time, meant to end — a temporary fix or a temporary contract. The key difference is duration and intention: permanent is meant to stay, temporary is meant to pass.
Does permanent mean it can never change?
Not literally forever in every case. 'Permanent' means something is intended to last indefinitely, without a planned end, rather than being guaranteed to exist eternally. A permanent job can still end and a permanent marker can fade — but the word signals lasting, settled, and not designed to be undone.
What is an example of something permanent?
A permanent tattoo, which is designed never to wash off, is a clear example. Others include a permanent home, a permanent job, or a permanent change to a law. In each case the thing is meant to stay indefinitely rather than being a short-term arrangement.
What is the opposite of permanent?
The main opposite is 'temporary', meaning lasting only a limited time. Related opposites include 'impermanent', 'fleeting', 'passing', and 'provisional'. All describe things meant to end or change, in contrast to something settled and lasting indefinitely.
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