Perpetuity is a formalsuitable for official or serious situations, not casual conversation noun for the state of lasting forever or seeming to continue without end. It is mainly used in abstractdealing with ideas rather than physical things or practical details or legalconnected with law, courts, or official rules contexts, not in everyday speech.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˌpɝːpəˈtuːɪti/
Easy pronunciation: per-puh-TOO-ih-tee (approximate spelling).
Stress: Primary stress is on TOO; secondary stress is on the first syllable.
Noun meaning endless duration or lasting forever.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Perpetuity Meaning
endless existence or duration
Part of speech: noun
Definition: the state of lasting forever or seeming to continue without end
Example: The family hoped the scholarship would continue in perpetuity.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- sempiternity — A direct lexical synonym, though it is rare and formal.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Perpetuity Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- sempiternity
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not confuse perpetuity with perpetual, which is the adjective form.
- It is not the same as permanence in every context, though they are related.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does perpetuity mean?
Perpetuity means a state of lasting forever, or continuing without end.
Is perpetuity common in everyday English?
No. It is a formal word and is more common in legal, academic, or abstract writing.
What is the adjective form of perpetuity?
The adjective form is perpetual.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.