transient

Passing with time; transitory.

Remaining in a place only a brief time.

Decaying with time, especially as a simple exponential function of time.

One that is transient, especially a hotel guest or boarder who stays for only a brief time.

A transient phenomenon or property, especially a transient electric current.

Passing across, as from one thing or person to another; communicated.

Passing with time; of short duration; not permanent; not lasting or durable; temporary; as, a transient impression.

Hasty; momentary; passing: as, a transient glance of a landscape.

In music, intermediate—that is, serving as a connective, but unessential in itself: as, a transient chord, modulation, or note. Compare passing-note.

SynonymsTransient, Transitory, Fleeting. Strictly, transient marks the fact that a thing soon passes or will soon pass away: as, a transient impression; a transient shadow. Transitory indicates that lack of permanence is in the nature of the thing; as, transitory pleasure; this transitory life. Fleeting is by figure a stronger word than transient, though in the same line of meaning. See list under transitory.