Ephemeral means lasting for a very short time or being fleeting and temporary, rather than lasting or permanent.

Core meaning

  • In everyday English, “ephemeral” describes something that exists only briefly, then disappears, like a trend that’s popular for just a moment.
  • Dictionaries define it as “lasting a very short time” or “used for only a short period of time,” often as a more formal synonym of “short‑lived” or “transitory.”

Origin and nuance

  • The word comes from Greek roots meaning “lasting only one day,” and it was first used for things like short fevers or day‑long natural phenomena.
  • Today it’s often used more poetically for fleeting beauty or moments that “sparkle and fade,” emphasizing their brief, delicate nature.

Modern usage examples

  • “Ephemeral content” on social media (like Instagram or Snapchat Stories) is designed to disappear after a short time, often 24 hours.
  • People talk about “ephemeral fashion trends” or “ephemeral fame” to highlight that some popularity or attention doesn’t last long.

In one line: If you call something “ephemeral,” you’re saying it’s short‑lived, here for a moment and then gone.