/ ˈtrænziənt; NAmE ˈtrænʃnt/ adjective , noun
■ adjective ( formal )
1.
continuing for only a short time
SYN fleeting , temporary :
the transient nature of speech
2.
staying or working in a place for only a short time, before moving on :
a city with a large transient population (= of students, temporary workers, etc.)
► tran·si·ence / -əns; NAmE / noun [ U ]:
the transience of human life
■ noun
( especially NAmE ) a person who stays or works in a place for only a short time, before moving on
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WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent.: from Latin transient- going across, from the verb transire , from trans- across + ire go.