# permanent

/ˈpɝmənənt/ (US) · /pˈɜːmənənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/permanent
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. lasting forever

adjective · CEFR B1

lasting for a long time or forever, and not expected to change.

For teachers: intended to last or remain unchanged indefinitely.

- She is looking for a permanent job rather than a summer contract.
- The treaty was intended to establish a permanent peace between the two nations after decades of border disputes.

### 2. hair treatment

noun · CEFR B2

a chemical treatment that makes your hair curly for several weeks.

For teachers: a chemical hair treatment that produces long-lasting waves or curls.

- She went to the salon to get a permanent before the wedding.
- The stylist warned that getting a permanent on recently bleached hair could cause significant structural damage to the follicles.

Usage: Often shortened to 'perm' in everyday conversation.

### 3. mathematics

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a specific number calculated from a square grid of numbers.

For teachers: a function of a square matrix similar to the determinant, but without using signs based on permutations.

- The professor explained how to calculate the permanent of the matrix.
- Computing the permanent of a large matrix is significantly more difficult than finding its determinant due to the lack of certain algebraic properties.

## Examples

- She is looking for a permanent job.
- The damage to the building was permanent and could not be repaired even with a large budget.
- While some temporary measures were introduced during the crisis, the government eventually decided to make the tax changes permanent to ensure long-term fiscal stability.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.