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transient

When used as an adjective, "transient" is often used in formal writing to describe emotions, weather, or physical states that don't last long. As a noun, it can sometimes carry a slightly negative connotation, suggesting someone who lacks permanent roots or stability in a community. In technical contexts like electronics, it refers specifically to sudden, short-lived changes rather than general impermanence.

💬Casual Conversation

🎬Tuesday afternoon; Jessica is staring at a chaotic Gantt chart while Mr. Sterling is in a sensory deprivation tank.
Mr. Sterling

Stop stressing, Jessica. This quarterly dip is merely transient.

Mr. Sterling
Jessica
Jessica

We're bleeding cash and I'm about to lose it.

💡
Mr. Sterling uses 'transient' in its adjective sense (impermanent) to dismiss a financial crisis with philosophical detachment. Jessica responds with the idiom 'lose it', meaning she is on the verge of a mental breakdown due to her high-anxiety personality.

Meanings

adjective

Lasting only for a short time; impermanent.

"The joy of victory was transient, quickly replaced by the pressure of the next competition."

noun

A person who is staying or working in a place for only a short time.

"The hotel caters largely to transients passing through the city on their way west."

adjective

In physics and engineering, relating to a temporary surge or fluctuation in voltage or current.

"A transient voltage spike can damage sensitive electronic components if not properly suppressed."

Related Words

Last Updated: May 22, 2026Report an Error