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Meaning of permanent in English:

permanent

Translate permanent into Spanish

adjective

  • 1Lasting or intended to last or remain unchanged indefinitely.

    ‘a permanent ban on the dumping of radioactive waste at sea’
    ‘damage was not thought to be permanent’
    ‘some temporary workers did not want a permanent job’
    • ‘With no money, job, or permanent address, the future looked bleak for Lisa and baby Nicole.’
    • ‘The berthing piers would remain as a permanent feature of the development of tourism in St Lucia.’
    • ‘It remains a permanent monument to the academic aspect of elasticity.’
    • ‘Many people work through agencies and then apply for permanent jobs.’
    • ‘So far the scheme has resulted in 20 people being placed into permanent jobs.’
    • ‘When we say something is a part of our nature, it makes it seem to be a permanent, unchangeable thing.’
    • ‘I can't decide whether this is a positive or a negative development, or indeed a permanent change.’
    • ‘The project heralds a permanent change in the way bail bandits will be treated, he said.’
    • ‘Even without sunburn, intense sunlight causes permanent changes in the skin.’
    • ‘Bulb and perennial combinations can be permanent additions to garden beds and borders.’
    • ‘Part of my job will be to help them find a permanent office, and they have a pretty tight budget.’
    • ‘He added that the town council intended to put up a more permanent sign later.’
    • ‘Foreign firms are thus strongly advised to establish a permanent base in the region.’
    • ‘In the longer term, a permanent move to Livingston hasn't been ruled out.’
    • ‘We decided to buy it as a holiday home but continue to look for a permanent base in the city.’
    • ‘It would not be a permanent position, and I would expect you to continue searching.’
    • ‘She was secure in the knowledge that she had a permanent home there.’
    • ‘This scholarship is being established in her name as a permanent reminder of her work.’
    • ‘It offers a long lasting and, in many cases, permanent cure by treating the disease at its root.’
    • ‘The aim of phase two would be to secure funding and design a permanent sabbatical centre.’
    lasting, enduring, indefinite, continuing, perpetual, everlasting, eternal, abiding, constant, persistent, irreparable, irreversible, lifelong, indissoluble, indelible, standing, perennial, unending, endless, never-ending, immutable, unchangeable, unalterable, invariable, unchanging, changeless, undying, imperishable, indestructible, ineradicable
    long-term, long-lasting, lasting, stable, fixed, established, sound, secure, solid, firm, continuing, durable
    View synonyms
    1. 1.1Lasting or continuing without interruption.
      ‘he's in a permanent state of rage’
      • ‘Was his permanent rage going to be banked by a great outpouring of slavering goodwill?’
      • ‘The advantages of permanent representation abroad included practicality and continuity.’
      • ‘We shall need permanent vigilance and constant efforts to spread democratic involvement.’

noun

North American

  • A perm for the hair.

    ‘a woman with a home permanent’
    • ‘Problem-solving perms re-texturize hair, adding body, wave, movement and volume, but to call them permanents is a misnomer.’
    • ‘Hairstyling, teasing, coloring, permanents, and the use of hair spray are supported.’
    • ‘Also, hair sprays, hair color, and permanents will not make you lose more hair.’
    • ‘Next week, we'll discuss how permanents, chemical relaxers, and dyes alter your hair's natural structure.’
    • ‘She produced a copy of his fee schedule for his services which showed he offered a wide range of services from haircuts to more extensive styling and permanents.’
    • ‘That thing scared me off permanents for life.’
    • ‘Some of the girls had amateurish home permanents.’

Origin

Late Middle English from Latin permanent- ‘remaining to the end’ (perhaps via Old French), from per- ‘through’ + manere ‘remain’.

Pronunciation

permanent

/ˈpəːm(ə)nənt/