permanent
1 of 2adjective
per·ma·nent ˈpər-mə-nənt 
ˈpərm-nənt
1
: continuing or enduring without fundamental or marked change : stable
the museum's permanent art collection
an accident causing permanent injury
2
a
: not easily removed, washed away, or erased : indelible sense 1a
permanent stains
b
: making marks that cannot easily be removed : indelible sense 1b
labeling boxes with permanent markers
permanentness noun
permanent
2 of 2noun
: a long-lasting hair wave produced by mechanical and chemical means
called also permanent wave
Synonyms
Adjective
- ceaseless
- dateless
- deathless
- endless
- eternal
- everlasting
- immortal
- perpetual
- undying
- unending
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective She made a permanent home in this country. Prolonged exposure to the sun can cause permanent skin damage. The museum's permanent collection includes works of art from the 18th century. The transcripts will serve as a permanent record of the proceedings.
Recent Examples on the Web
Marisa Donnelly, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Sep. 2022 Unfortunately, the city leadership has not presented a permanent solution or a comprehensive plan. Isabella Murray, ABC News, 31 Aug. 2022 The duo has unapologetically helped in dismantling loc stereotypes, compelling a generation of Black women to explore styles, both temporary and permanent. Jailynn Taylor, Essence, 23 Aug. 2022 Qatar should provide Afghans shelter until a permanent solution is found. Jonathan Schanzer, WSJ, 15 Aug. 2022 The leak was discovered this year, and the pipeline has been operating at reduced capacity under a temporary fix while officials designed a more permanent solution. Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2022 To help consumers navigate this shortage, CPAP.com prioritized providing education aimed at helping customers looking for CPAP machines to find viable temporary and permanent workarounds. Serenity Gibbons, Forbes, 9 Aug. 2022 Symptoms of the disease include fever, fatigue, weight loss, general pains and aches, digestive system issues, dizziness, ringing in the ears, abrupt hearing loss, temporary or permanent blindness and shortness of breath. Christopher Brito, CBS News, 9 Aug. 2022 Some people with vasculitis may also experience dizziness, ringing in the ears, hearing loss and double vision or temporary or permanent blindness, according to the Mayo Clinic. Marina Pitofsky, USA TODAY, 9 Aug. 2022 Michelle Santiago Cortés, refinery29.com, 26 June 2021 The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency is working on making three Slow Streets closed to through traffic during the pandemic permanent: Page, Shotwell and Sanchez streets. Mallory Moench, San Francisco Chronicle, 2 Feb. 2021 The salon’s services include coloring, permanents, hairstyling, highlights and shampoos. Vincent T. Davis, ExpressNews.com, 22 Mar. 2020 Turning loanee signings into permanents has been of top priority. SI.com, 12 July 2018 The decision makes permanent an earlier injunction that had temporarily blocked the law. Washington Post, 18 June 2018 See More
Adjective
Or for a more permanent solution, build custom shelves to fit your attic closet. Marisa Donnelly, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Sep. 2022 Unfortunately, the city leadership has not presented a permanent solution or a comprehensive plan. Isabella Murray, ABC News, 31 Aug. 2022 The duo has unapologetically helped in dismantling loc stereotypes, compelling a generation of Black women to explore styles, both temporary and permanent. Jailynn Taylor, Essence, 23 Aug. 2022 Qatar should provide Afghans shelter until a permanent solution is found. Jonathan Schanzer, WSJ, 15 Aug. 2022 The leak was discovered this year, and the pipeline has been operating at reduced capacity under a temporary fix while officials designed a more permanent solution. Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2022 To help consumers navigate this shortage, CPAP.com prioritized providing education aimed at helping customers looking for CPAP machines to find viable temporary and permanent workarounds. Serenity Gibbons, Forbes, 9 Aug. 2022 Symptoms of the disease include fever, fatigue, weight loss, general pains and aches, digestive system issues, dizziness, ringing in the ears, abrupt hearing loss, temporary or permanent blindness and shortness of breath. Christopher Brito, CBS News, 9 Aug. 2022 Some people with vasculitis may also experience dizziness, ringing in the ears, hearing loss and double vision or temporary or permanent blindness, according to the Mayo Clinic. Marina Pitofsky, USA TODAY, 9 Aug. 2022 Noun
If hotness is an effort to make the ephemeral permanent, then illness is a constant reminder of how nothing is forever. Michelle Santiago Cortés, refinery29.com, 26 June 2021 The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency is working on making three Slow Streets closed to through traffic during the pandemic permanent: Page, Shotwell and Sanchez streets. Mallory Moench, San Francisco Chronicle, 2 Feb. 2021 The salon’s services include coloring, permanents, hairstyling, highlights and shampoos. Vincent T. Davis, ExpressNews.com, 22 Mar. 2020 Turning loanee signings into permanents has been of top priority. SI.com, 12 July 2018 The decision makes permanent an earlier injunction that had temporarily blocked the law. Washington Post, 18 June 2018 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English, from Anglo-French parmanant, from Latin permanent-, permanens, present participle of permanēre to endure, from per- throughout + manēre to remain — more at per-, mansion
First Known Use
Adjective
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
1925, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing permanent
Kids Definition
permanent
adjective
per·ma·nent ˈpər-mə-nənt
: lasting or meant to last for a long time : not temporary Some permanent changes will be made.
Medical Definition
permanent
adjective
per·ma·nent ˈpərm(-ə)-nənt
: of, relating to, or being a permanent tooth
permanent dentition
permanent 1 of 2
adjective
as in eternal
lasting forever a temporary compromise has been accepted until a more permanent solution can be agreed upon Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- eternal
- immortal
- endless
- perpetual
- lasting
- durable
- everlasting
- unending
- enduring
- continuous
- deathless
- persistent
- undying
- ceaseless
- indelible
- continual
- indestructible
- stable
- stubborn
- continuing
- uninterrupted
- unbroken
- indissoluble
- abiding
- indefeasible
- steadfast
- timeless
- imperishable
- standing
- indefectible
- long-lived
- dateless
- inexpungible
- unceasing
- unfailing
- unremitting
- incessant
- steady
- unfaltering
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- temporary
- transient
- impermanent
- transitory
- mortal
- momentary
- ephemeral
- fleeting
- passing
- evanescent
- interim
- provisional
- fugitive
- short-lived
- fugacious
- short-term
permanent
2 of 2noun
as in perm
Synonyms & Similar Words
- perm
- big hair
- conk
- haircut
- fade
- hairstyle
- coiffure
- hairdo
- beehive
- pug
- crew cut
- bun
- crop
- buzz cut
- cut
- shag
- trim
- French twist
- upsweep
- pigtail
- queue
- shingle
- do
- bob
- updo
- chignon
- ponytail
- pageboy
- roach
- braid
- pompadour
- ducktail
- Mohawk
- plait
- comb-over
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of permanent are durable, lasting, and stable. While all these words mean "enduring for so long as to seem fixed or established," permanent adds usually the implication of being designed or planned to stand or continue indefinitely.
permanent living arrangements
Although the words durable and permanent have much in common, durable implies power to resist destructive agencies.
durable fabrics
The words lasting and permanent can be used in similar contexts, but lasting implies a capacity to continue indefinitely.
a book that left a lasting impression on me
The meanings of stable and permanent largely overlap; however, stable implies lastingness because of resistance to being overturned or displaced.
a stable government