# temporal

/ˈtɛmpɝəɫ/ (US) · /tˈɛmpəɹəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/temporal
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. relating to time

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic

relating to time or how things change over time.

For teachers: relating to time as a dimension or the sequence of events.

- The researchers studied the temporal patterns of the weather over ten years.
- The study examines the temporal distribution of rainfall, noting how the frequency of storms has shifted over the last three decades.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun.

### 2. worldly or non-religious

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

relating to the physical world and ordinary life rather than spiritual or religious things.

For teachers: relating to worldly as opposed to spiritual affairs; secular.

- The king had temporal power over the land, but the church handled spiritual matters.
- The treaty sought to balance the temporal authority of the state with the traditional religious rights of the local population.

Usage: Common in historical or legal contexts.

### 3. relating to the temples

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

relating to the sides of the head near the eyes.

For teachers: relating to the temples or the sides of the skull.

- He felt a sharp pain in his temporal region during the headache.
- The surgeon carefully navigated the temporal bone to avoid damaging the delicate structures of the inner ear.

Usage: Used primarily in anatomical or medical descriptions.

### 4. a bone in the skull

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

one of the bones on the side of the skull.

For teachers: a short form for the temporal bone or a specific scale on a reptile's head.

- The doctor pointed to the temporal on the X-ray.
- The fracture extended across the left temporal, necessitating immediate intervention to prevent neurological complications.

Usage: Often used in the plural when referring to anatomical structures.

## Examples

- The story has a complex temporal structure.
- Researchers are studying the temporal patterns of bird migration to see if they change as the climate warms.
- The philosopher argued that our perception of reality is limited by our temporal existence, preventing us from seeing the universe as a single, unchanging whole.

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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.