Permanent can describeto explain what a person or thing is like something that lasts a long time or is intended to continue indefinitelyfor an unlimited period; with no planned end. It also has a separate noun meaning in hair stylingthe way hair is arranged or cut for appearance.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-04. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈpɝmənənt/
Easy pronunciation: PER-muh-nent (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress falls on the first syllable.
Use this pronunciation for the adjective meaning lasting and not temporary.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-04. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Permanent Meaning
lasting and not temporary
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: continuing for a long time or without an expected end
Example: She moved into her permanent home last month.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- lasting — A strong everyday synonym for the main adjective sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-04. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Permanent
Meaning 2
causing a change that cannot be undone
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: not capable of being reversed or returned to the original condition
Example: The accident caused permanent damage to his hand.
Meaning 3
a hair treatment that creates curls or waves
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a series of waves in the hair made by applying heat and chemicals
Example: She got a permanent before the wedding.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- perm — Common short form in hair styling.
- permanent wave — Exact hair-styling term for this noun sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-11-04. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Permanent Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- lasting
hair-styling noun sense
- perm
- permanent wave
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-04. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not confuse permanent the adjective with perm, the hair-styling noun.
- Permanent can mean something lasting, but it does not always mean impossible to change.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-04. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does permanent mean?
Permanent usually means lasting a long time or continuing without an expected end. It can also mean a change that cannot be reversed, and as a noun it can refer to a hair treatment.
What are synonyms for permanent?
For the main adjective sense, lasting is the clearest synonym in the supplied data. For the hair noun, perm and permanent wave are synonyms.
Is permanent the same as lifelong?
Not exactly. Permanent can mean very long-lasting or intended to continue, but lifelong is more specific and usually refers to the whole life of a person.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-04. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
