transitory

UK: /ˈtrænsət^əri/

US: /ˈtrænsɪˌtɔri, -zɪ-/

US: (tran′si tôr′ē, -tōr′ē, -zi-)

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

tran•si•to•ry /ˈtrænsɪˌtɔri, -zɪ-/   adj. 

1. not lasting long;
   not permanent;
   brief:
   a transitory illness.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

tran•si•to•ry  (tran′si tôr′ē, -tōr′ē, -zi-), adj. 

1. not lasting, enduring, permanent, or eternal.
2. lasting only a short time; brief;
   short-lived;
   temporary.

• Late Latin, as above
• Middle French
• Late Latin trānsitōrius fleeting (see transit, -tory¹); replacing Middle English transitoire
• Middle English transitorie 1325–75

tran•si•to•ri•ly (tran′si tôr′ə lē, -tōr′-, tran′si tôr′-, -tōr′-, -zi-), adv.  tran ′si•to′ri•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 2. See temporary.

Antonyms

• 2. permanent.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

transitory / ˈtrænsɪtərɪ -trɪ/ adjective

1. of short duration; transient or ephemeral

Etymology: 14th Century: from Church Latin transitōrius passing, from Latin transitus a crossing over; see transient

ˈtransitoriness noun