transient

Universal Words adjective, noun adjective (formal) 1 continuing for only a short time SYNTEMPORARY: the transient nature of speech 2 staying or working in a place for only a short time, before moving on: a city with a large transient population (= of students, temporary workers, etc.) transience noun [U]: the transience of human life noun (especially AmE) a person who stays or works in a place for only a short time, before moving on: Most of the farm workers are transients.