Meaning & use

temporal

adjective·Academic

Last updated

Relating to time, or to earthly rather than spiritual matters.

See it in a sentence

The novel plays with temporal order, jumping between past and present.

Historically, kings held both temporal and spiritual authority in some societies.

A note on using this word

Don't confuse with 'temporary'; 'temporal' describes something related to time itself, not something short-lived.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

Another way to use it

2. adjective

Relating to the temples of the skull or the adjacent lobe of the brain.

The temporal lobe plays a major role in processing language and memory.

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