temporal

UK: /ˈtɛmp^ərəl/

US: /ˈtɛmpərəl, ˈtɛmprəl/

US: (tem′pər əl, tem′prəl)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

tem•po•ral¹ /ˈtɛmpərəl, ˈtɛmprəl/   adj. 

1. of or relating to time:
   temporal measurement of the solar day.
2. of or relating to the present life;
   worldly:
   temporal joys.
3. Grammar of or relating to verb tenses or the expression of time:
   a temporal adverb.

tem•po•ral•ly, adv. See -temp-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

tem•po•ral¹  (tem′pər əl, tem′prəl), adj. 

1. of or pertaining to time.
2. pertaining to or concerned with the present life or this world;
   worldly:
   temporal joys.
3. enduring for a time only;
   temporary;
   transitory (opposed to eternal).
4. Grammar
   • of, pertaining to, or expressing time:
     a temporal adverb.
   • of or pertaining to the tenses of a verb.
5. secular, lay, or civil, as opposed to ecclesiastical.

n. Usually, temporals. 

6. a temporal possession, estate, or the like;
   temporality.
7. something that is temporal;
   a temporal matter or affair.

• Latin temporālis, equivalent. to tempor- (stem of tempus) time + -ālis -al¹
• Middle English (adjective, adjectival and noun, nominal) 1300–50

tem′po•ral•ly, adv. 
tem′po•ral•ness, n. 

tem•po•ral²  (tem′pər əl, tem′prəl), [Anat., Zool.]
adj. 

1. Anatomy, Zoology of, pertaining to, or situated near the temple or a temporal bone.

n. 

2. Anatomy, Zoology any of several parts in the temporal region, esp. the temporal bone.

• Late Latin temporālis, equivalent. to tempor- (stem of tempus) temple² + -ālis -al¹
• 1535–45

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

temporal / ˈtɛmpərəl ˈtɛmprəl/ adjective

1. of or relating to time
2. of or relating to secular as opposed to spiritual or religious affairs
3. lasting for a relatively short time
4. of or relating to tense or the linguistic expression of time in general

Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin temporālis, from tempus time

ˈtemporally adverb

temporal / ˈtɛmpərəl ˈtɛmprəl/ adjective

1. of, relating to, or near the temple or temples

Etymology: 16th Century: from Late Latin temporālis belonging to the temples; see temple²