temporal

Language: en

🇬🇧 /ˈtɛmpərəl/ 🇺🇸 /ˈtɛmpɜrəl/

📖 Definitions

  1. adjective
    Relating to time or the passage of time, as opposed to eternity or space.; Relating to worldly or secular affairs, as opposed to spiritual or sacred matters.; Relating to the temples of the head or the temporal bone.; Lasting only for a time; temporary or transitory.; In grammar, relating to or expressing time or tense.
  2. noun
    A temporal bone of the skull, or a part of it.; A temporal artery, especially the superficial temporal artery.; (In plural: temporals) Worldly possessions, revenues, or affairs, especially those of the church.

🔗 Details

Word forms

countable Plural: temporals Comparative: more temporal Superlative: most temporal

Collocations

temporal lobetemporal bonetemporal arterytemporal sequencetemporal relationshiptemporal ordertemporal power

Derivatives

temporallytemporalitytemporalizetemporalization

Synonyms

chronologicalsecularworldlytransienttemporary

Antonyms

eternalspiritualsacredpermanent

Commonly confused

temporary
EN: 'Temporary' means lasting for a limited period; 'temporal' means relating to time itself or to worldly/secular affairs.
temporally
EN: 'Temporally' is the adverb form of 'temporal'; use it to modify verbs (e.g., 'events ordered temporally').

Spelling tips

EN: Do not confuse 'temporal' (relating to time or the temples of the head) with 'temporary' (lasting for a limited period). They share a Latin root but have distinct meanings.

💬 Examples

  1. The temporal sequence of events was carefully recorded in the journal.

  2. The king held temporal power while the pope retained spiritual authority.

  3. The patient suffered a fracture of the temporal bone after the accident.

  4. He considered his earthly possessions to be merely temporal goods.

  5. The temporal clause 'when she arrived' indicates the time of the main action.

  6. The temporal forms part of the lateral wall and base of the skull.

  7. The surgeon carefully ligated the temporal to control the bleeding.

  8. The bishop was stripped of his temporals by the crown during the dispute.