What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
ephemeral
Example
The beauty of cherry blossoms is ephemeral, lasting only a few weeks. [ephemeral: adjective]
Example
Social media posts are often ephemeral, disappearing after a set amount of time. [ephemeral: adjective]
transient
Example
The city has a large population of transient workers who come for seasonal jobs. [transient: noun]
Example
The feeling of happiness from winning the lottery was transient and did not last long. [transient: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Transient is more commonly used than ephemeral in everyday language. Transient is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while ephemeral is less common and often used in specific contexts such as art or nature.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between ephemeral and transient?
Both ephemeral and transient are formal words that are appropriate for use in academic or professional writing.
