# transient

/ˈtɹænʒənt/ (US) · /tɹˈænsiənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/transient
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. lasting a short time

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic

lasting for only a very short time before disappearing.

For teachers: passing or disappearing with time; transitory or ephemeral in nature.

- The city is famous for its transient population of students and tourists.
- The beauty of the cherry blossoms is famously transient, lasting only a few days before the petals are scattered by the wind.

### 2. physics/engineering

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

describing a state or current that changes quickly before reaching a steady level.

For teachers: relating to a state or variable that is changing, typically decaying exponentially, before reaching equilibrium.

- The engineer measured the transient voltage when the machine first started.
- The system experienced a transient oscillation immediately following the power surge, but it stabilized within milliseconds.

### 3. a short-term resident

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a person who stays in a place for only a short time, like a traveler or worker.

For teachers: a person who passes through a place for a brief duration, such as a migrant worker or a temporary resident.

- The small town had many transients who came to work during the harvest.
- The local shelter provides beds for transients who are moving between cities in search of seasonal employment.

### 4. audio/electricity

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a very quick, loud sound or a sudden burst of electricity.

For teachers: a brief, high-amplitude signal or surge, such as the initial attack of a drum hit or a momentary electrical spike.

- The music producer used a special tool to control the transients of the snare drum.
- The circuit breaker was designed to handle minor transients without cutting off power to the entire building.

## Examples

- The storm was transient and the sun soon returned.
- The city has a large transient population of students and seasonal workers who stay for only a few months.
- Philosophers often contrast the transient nature of physical beauty with the perceived permanence of mathematical truths or moral virtues.

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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.