impermanence
im-PUR-muh-nunss
/ɪmˈpɜːrmənəns/
The state or fact of lasting for only a limited time; the quality of being temporary.
In Buddhism (Anicca), impermanence is not a tragic flaw of reality, but the foundational law of all compounded existence.
The story behind the word. Formed from Latin 'in-' (not) + 'permanere' (to remain through to the end). The root 'manere' (to stay) also gives us 'mansion' (a place to stay) and 'remain'.
Word relationships
- transience: Transience emphasizes brief duration, whereas impermanence emphasizes the ongoing process of changing and ending.
- ephemerality: Ephemerality stresses lightness and short-lived delicacy, like a flower that lasts one day.
- permanence: Permanence means state of lasting indefinitely.
- eternity: Eternity implies timeless existence without end.
Commonly confused with
- imperience: Imperience is an obscure coined word; impermanence is the standard philosophical term for non-permanence.
Word family
- impermanent (adjective): Not permanent; temporary
- permanence (noun): State of remaining unchanged
Collocations
- radical impermanence
- law of impermanence
- accept impermanence
- fleeting impermanence
Idioms & expressions
- this too shall pass
Example sentences
- "Accepting the impermanence of all worldly forms is the key to escaping suffering." Buddhist Thought
- "The fading autumn leaves serve as a beautiful reminder of nature's endless impermanence." Nature Essay
Memory hook
IM-PERMANENT = NOT permanent; like ink washed away by rain. Nothing stays unchanged forever.
When not to use
Do not use to describe a person's indecisiveness; use it for conditions, phenomena, or physical states that decay or change.
Fun facts
- Japanese aesthetics developed the term 'mono no aware'—a poignant awareness of the impermanence of all things—inspired by cherry blossoms falling.
Related words
Explore more words
impermanent, transience, short-lived, transitory, transient, immutable
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