tran·sient
ˈtran(t)-sh(ē-)ənt 
ˈtran-zē-ənt
ˈtran-zē-ənt
ˈtran(t)-sē-;
ˈtran-zhənt,
-jənt
1
a
: passing especially quickly into and out of existence : transitory
transient beauty
b
: passing through or by a place with only a brief stay or sojourn
transient visitors
2
: affecting something or producing results beyond itself
transiently
adverb
1
: one that is transient (see transient entry 1): such as
a
: a guest or boarder who stays only briefly
b
: a person traveling about usually in search of work
2
a
: a temporary oscillation that occurs in a circuit because of a sudden change of voltage or of load
b
: a transient current or voltage
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How should you use transient?
A transient mood is one that passes quickly. A brief stopover in a town on your way to somewhere else is a transient visit. A summer job on a farm is transient work, lasting only as long as the growing season. You may occasionally experience a transient episode of dizziness or weakness, which vanishes without a trace. As a noun, transient means a person who passes through a place, staying only briefly.
Synonyms
Examples of transient in a Sentence
Adjective
A Summer in New York is actually Europe, the Sequel—city of transient Danes and Italians and Spaniards and French.
—
Guy Trebay, Village Voice, 30 July 1991
But Vandenberg, who had already written a hagiographic biography of Hamilton, was doing his personal hero no service. Rather, he trivialized him by dragging him into the transient issues of the day.
—John Steele Gordon, American Heritage, July/August 1990
The mountain lies between his residence and the main road, and occludes the expectation of transient visits.
—Thomas Jefferson, letter, 4 Aug. 1820
had transient thoughts of quitting her job and going back to school
Guy Trebay, Village Voice, 30 July 1991
But Vandenberg, who had already written a hagiographic biography of Hamilton, was doing his personal hero no service. Rather, he trivialized him by dragging him into the transient issues of the day.
—John Steele Gordon, American Heritage, July/August 1990
The mountain lies between his residence and the main road, and occludes the expectation of transient visits.
—Thomas Jefferson, letter, 4 Aug. 1820
had transient thoughts of quitting her job and going back to school
Recent Examples on the Web
Zev Fima, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2024
Chelsea shared on her Instagram Stories that the toddler had developed transient synovitis from a viral infection.
—Emily Blackwood, People.com, 26 Oct. 2024
Teri Figueroa, The Mercury News, 25 Oct. 2024
This injects more energy into the production of soundwaves resulting in a sound that’s punchy, superbly defined and which has excellent transients.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 13 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for transient 
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Adjective
That said, management was quick to note that these issues are transient and a matter of timing, not demand.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2024
Chelsea shared on her Instagram Stories that the toddler had developed transient synovitis from a viral infection.
—Emily Blackwood, People.com, 26 Oct. 2024
Noun
The District Attorney’s Office opposes Wakefield’s bid for release as a transient.
—Teri Figueroa, The Mercury News, 25 Oct. 2024
This injects more energy into the production of soundwaves resulting in a sound that’s punchy, superbly defined and which has excellent transients.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 13 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for transient
Dictionary Entries Near transient
Cite this Entry
“Transient.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/transient. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
transient
2 of 2 noun1
: a temporary guest
2
: a person traveling about usually in search of work
Medical Definition
transient
adjective
tran·sient
ˈtran-zē-ənt
ˈtranch-ənt
ˈtranch-ənt
: passing away in time : existing temporarily
transient symptoms
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