adj.
Lasting, used, serving, or enjoyed for a limited time.
n. Informal, pl., -ies.
One that serves for a limited time: an office staffed by temporaries.
[Latin temporārius, from tempus, tempor-, time.]
temporarily tem'po·rar'i·ly adv.temporariness tem'po·rar'i·ness n.
SYNONYMS temporary, acting, ad interim, interim, provisional. These adjectives mean assuming the duties of another for the time being: a temporary chairperson; the acting dean; an ad interim admissions committee; an interim administration; a provisional mayor.
ANTONYM permanent
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
