permanent

/ˈpɜːrmənənt/

Say it: PER-muh-nuhnt

1. adjective Lasting or intended to last or remain unchanged indefinitely.
The accident left a permanent scar on his arm.
2. adjective Describing a job or position that is long-term and not temporary or contractual.
After six months as a temp, she was offered a permanent role at the company.
3. noun A chemical treatment applied to hair to create lasting curls or waves.
She decided to get a permanent to give her straight hair more volume.

📖 Seen in the wild

The company offered him a permanent position after his successful internship.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ permanent in a sentence

Be careful with that permanent marker; the ink won't wash out.
The museum's permanent collection includes several works by Picasso.
They are seeking a permanent solution to the city's traffic problems.
After years of moving, they were happy to finally have a permanent address.
The new law made a permanent change to the tax code.
He became a permanent resident of Canada last year.
The conflict caused permanent damage to relations between the two countries.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

lasting enduring everlasting perpetual stable unchanging fixed abiding

lasting · suggests endurance over a long time but lacks the strong sense of being unchangeable.

enduring · emphasizes the ability to withstand challenges, wear, or the passage of time.

everlasting · is a more absolute and often hyperbolic or spiritual term for something that lasts forever.

perpetual · often implies something that is continuous or repeats without interruption.

Opposites: temporary, transient, fleeting, ephemeral, momentary

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'permanent' traveled from Latin to English through French. It comes from the Latin 'permanere', which means 'to stay to the end' or 'to endure'. This is a combination of 'per', meaning 'through', and 'manere', meaning 'to remain' or 'to stay', the same root that gives us 'remain' and 'manor'.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

permanent damagepermanent markerpermanent residentpermanent solutionpermanent fixturepermanent position

While 'permanent' literally means lasting forever, it's often used more practically to mean 'for the foreseeable future' or 'not temporary'. A permanent job isn't guaranteed for life, and a permanent marker can be removed with the right solvent. Be mindful of this distinction between the absolute meaning and its common, more flexible application. It is a standard, neutral term appropriate for any context.

Word family: permanence, permanently

💬 Quick answers

What does permanent mean?

It describes something that is intended to last or remain unchanged indefinitely, without a foreseeable end.

What is the difference between permanent and temporary?

They are direct opposites. Permanent means lasting indefinitely, while temporary means lasting for only a limited period.

Can something described as permanent be changed?

Yes, in practice. While the word implies forever, things like a 'permanent job' can end and a 'permanent tattoo' can be removed, though often with difficulty.

What's the difference between permanent and lasting?

'Permanent' implies an intention for something to exist indefinitely from the start. 'Lasting' simply describes something that has endured for a long time, like a lasting friendship, without the same strong sense of unchanging finality.

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