temporary meaning: definition, etymology

temporary

adj

UK /ˈtɛmpəɹəɹi/ · US /ˈtɛmp(əˌɹ)ɛɹi/

Etymology Borrowed from Latin temporarius, from tempus (“time”).

Not permanent; existing only for a period or periods of time.

Sally was put in temporary charge of the department while they searched for a full-time replacement.

Existing only for a short time or short times.

Synonyms: temporaneous
Derived terms: cotemporary, nontemporary, tempban, tempofrost, temporarily, temporariness, temporary gentleman, temporary help, temporary restraining order, temporary tooth, there is nothing more permanent than a temporary solution, untemporary
Related terms: temporality, tempus fugit

noun

Etymology Borrowed from Latin temporarius, from tempus (“time”).

One serving for a limited time; a short-term employee, especially in an office.

Computing, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Programming, Sciences A short-term variable used to store an intermediate result.