fugacious
Say it: fyoo-GAY-shus /fjuːˈɡeɪʃəs/ · adjective
What “fugacious” means
Lasting only a short time.
More precisely: Fleeting; tending to vanish or fade quickly.
Example: “Motivation is fugacious, so build habits that work without it.”
When to use it
In formal or literary writing, for things that pass away or fade very quickly.
Memory trick
Latin fugere means to flee: imagine a moment running away before you can keep it.
Similar words
fleeting, transient, ephemeral
Where it comes from
Latin fugax, 'fleeing', from fugere 'to flee'.
Quick check
A brief rainbow appears in the spray, then vanishes as soon as the cloud passes. How would you describe it?
permanent or fugacious?
Show the answer
fugacious
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