temporary continuing for only a limited period of time:
I’ve got a temporary office job, but I hope I’ll find something more permanent soon. I’m sure the problem is only temporary. temporary staff a temporary visaprovisional temporary – used especially about arrangements or information that people may decide to change in the future. Also used about licences or governments which are only arranged to last for a short time:
Does the hotel accept provisional bookings? They have set a provisional date for the next meeting. a provisional driving licence In June, the rebels claimed to have formed a provisional government. Provisional figures yesterday from the Department of Transport showed that 4,274 people were killed last year — 6 percent fewer than the previous year.stopgap [only before noun] temporary – used about something that you use for a short time until you can replace it with something better:
The Republicans will approve the one-month budget as a stopgap measure to keep the state operating. This is only a stopgap solution to the country’s debt problem.passing [only before noun] temporary – used about an interest, thought, or feeling that is short and not very serious:
Tonight’s game will be exciting, even to those with only a passing interest in the sport. As a student, I didn’t give working in finance even a passing thought.ephemeral formal existing or popular for only a short time:
the ephemeral beauty of white snow on green trees and bare branches Many new words, particularly slang, are fleeting and ephemeral.transient formal continuing for only a limited time, or staying somewhere for only a short time – used especially to say that something is always changing, or people only stay somewhere for a short time:
the transient nature of life transient changes in the electrical properties of the neurons Arizona has a highly transient population. [TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲