Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Ephemeral nature refers to something that is short-lived or fleeting, often lasting only for a brief period of time.
Related terms
Transience: Transience refers to the state of being temporary or not lasting long. It describes things that are here one moment and gone the next, like the changing seasons or passing moments of happiness.
Fleeting: Fleeting means lasting for only a very short time. It can describe experiences or emotions that are brief and quickly vanish, such as a shooting star streaking across the night sky.
Evanescent: Evanescent means vanishing or fading away quickly. It is used to describe things that are transient and don't stay around for long, like a rainbow after rainfall or the scent of fresh flowers in bloom.