permanence

noun

per·​ma·​nence ˈpər-mə-nən(t)s How to pronounce permanence (audio)
ˈpərm-nən(t)s
: the quality or state of being permanent : durability

Examples of permanence in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The crown is a symbol of permanence, of stability, of continuity. Clark Collis, EW.com, 14 Dec. 2023 The better the quality, the better sense of permanence, elegance, comfort and flexibility for seating areas. Cameron Sullivan, The Mercury News, 25 Jan. 2024 At the height of the holiday season, thousands are still desperate for permanence, stuck in 33 hotels, according to the American Red Cross. Reis Thebault, Washington Post, 23 Dec. 2023 The closest he’s come to permanence is when he’s worked with Andy Reid, spending eight years with the Philadelphia Eagles and the last five years with the Kansas City Chiefs. USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024 His investment vehicles rotated—Dark Stone Enterprises, Clear Wood Equity, Broad Water Capital—their names, like so many similar firms, fitting a common pattern: the interplay of an element and an adjective, striving at permanence. Elliot Ackerman, WIRED, 6 Feb. 2024 The downside to that approach, of course, is the lack of permanence, boldness, commitment — all the qualities that an apathetic fan base would welcome. Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2024 There’s so much permanence and emotion, and that feeling is incredibly real. Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Feb. 2024 While some members of the public have decided to swear off the creative output of cultural figures accused of wrongdoing — such as Chuck Close’s paintings, Woody Allen’s films or Michael Jackson’s music — buildings in their solidity and permanence are more difficult to cancel. Alex Marshall, New York Times, 6 July 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'permanence.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of permanence was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near permanence

Cite this Entry

“Permanence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/permanence. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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