I. tran ‧ si ‧ ent 1 /ˈtrænziənt $ ˈtrænʃ ə nt/ BrE AmE adjective formal
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: present participle of transire 'to go across' , from ire 'to go' ]
1 . continuing only for a short time:
transient fashions
2 . working or staying somewhere for only a short time:
a transient population
—transience noun [uncountable]
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THESAURUS
▪ 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.
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I’m sure the problem is only temporary.
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temporary staff
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a temporary visa
▪ provisional 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?
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They have set a provisional date for the next meeting.
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a provisional driving licence
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In June, the rebels claimed to have formed a provisional government.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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transient changes in the electrical properties of the neurons
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Arizona has a highly transient population.
II. transient 2 BrE AmE noun [countable]
American English someone who has no home and moves around from place to place