temporal

temporal — adjective

1. relating to time, especially the order in which events happen or the fact that s

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

relating to time, especially the order in which events happen or the fact that something is limited to a particular period.

Example

The study examined the temporal relationship between sleep quality and exam scores.

collocation: temporal relationship

Historians must consider the temporal context in which these old letters were written.

Common collocations
  • temporal relationship
  • temporal order
  • temporal sequence
  • temporal pattern
  • temporal gap
  • temporal marker
  • temporal context
Synonyms
  • chronological

    specifically about sequence/order; 'chronological order' vs 'temporal relationship'

  • time-related

    simpler and less formal; good for everyday use

Antonyms
  • eternal

    outside of time; without beginning or end

  • spatial

    relating to space rather than time

Grammar Patterns

temporal + noun

be temporal

temporal relationship between ... and ...

Usage Note

This is the most common sense in academic and non-specialist writing. 'Temporal' in this meaning does NOT imply 'short-lived' — for that meaning, use 'temporary' instead. A 'temporal relationship' means two things are connected in time, not that the connection is brief.

Common Mistakes

This is only a temporal solution to the problem.
This is only a temporary solution to the problem.
'temporary' means lasting a short time; 'temporal' means relating to time.

2. describing things that belong to the physical world we live in — money, governme

2.adjectiveC1
Definition

describing things that belong to the physical world we live in — money, government, daily affairs — rather than to religion or the soul.

Example

The bishop chose to give up all temporal power and live among the poor.

collocation: temporal power

Shirin argued that good schools should serve both temporal needs and spiritual growth.

contrast pairing: temporal ... spiritual

Common collocations
  • temporal power
  • temporal life
  • temporal matters
  • temporal authority
  • temporal affairs
  • temporal ruler
Synonyms
  • secular

    more common and neutral; 'secular education' vs 'temporal concerns'

  • earthly

    warmer, less formal; emphasises the physical world

  • worldly

    can suggest experience or materialism; 'worldly goods'

  • material

    focuses on physical objects rather than abstract earthly life

Antonyms
  • spiritual

    opposite domain — of the soul or religion

  • eternal

    opposite in durability — outside of time

  • religious

    opposite in institutional domain — church matters

Grammar Patterns

temporal + noun

be temporal

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1 (CONCERNING TIME) and from 'temporary' (lasting a short time). This sense always contrasts with spiritual, religious, or eternal matters — if the context lacks that contrast, you probably mean the TIME sense instead.

Common Mistakes

The effects of the drug were temporal, lasting only an hour.
The effects of the drug were temporary, lasting only an hour.
'temporal' in this sense means earthly/secular, not short-lived.

3. connected to the small area on each side of the skull, slightly above and in fro

3.adjectiveC1
Definition

connected to the small area on each side of the skull, slightly above and in front of the ear, where the temple sits; used for the bones and soft tissues located there.

Example

The CT scan showed a hairline crack in the left temporal bone.

collocation: temporal bone

Léa felt an ache near her temple where the temporal muscle meets the jaw.

collocation: temporal muscle

Common collocations
  • temporal bone
  • temporal lobe
  • temporal muscle
  • temporal artery
  • temporal region
  • temporal fossa
Synonyms
  • temple

    everyday word for the same area; not used as an adjective

Grammar Patterns

temporal + noun

Usage Note

Used almost exclusively in medical or anatomical writing. The most common compound nouns are 'temporal bone', 'temporal lobe', and 'temporal artery'. When speaking generally, people say 'temple' (e.g., 'pain in the temple') rather than 'temporal region'.

Common Mistakes

I have a headache in my temporal.
I have a headache in my temple.
'temporal' as a noun is a technical medical term; in everyday conversation, use 'temple' for the body part.

temporal — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words relate to time, but each focuses on a different aspect. 'Temporal' is the broadest — it describes anything connected with time itself ('temporal order', 'temporal limits'), without saying anything about duration or sequence. 'Chronological' is narrower: it specifically means 'arranged in the order in which events occurred' ('a chronological timeline', 'in chronological order'). 'Sequential' is even more neutral about time — it simply means 'one after another' and can apply to spatial or logical order too ('sequential steps in a recipe'). 'Temporary' is the odd one out: it means 'lasting only a short time', not 'relating to time'. A learner might say 'a temporary job' (a job that ends soon) but 'the temporal scope of the study' (the time period the study covers). If you mean 'short-lived', always use 'temporary' — 'temporal' never carries that meaning.

temporal ↗chronological ↗sequentialtemporary ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • temporally

Phrases

  • temporal and spatial
  • temporal and spiritual
  • temporal and eternal

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

The word 'temporal' comes from Latin 'temporalis' meaning 'of time', which itself comes from 'tempus' (time). Interestingly, the anatomical sense — referring to the temple of the head — comes from the same Latin root: the ancient Romans called the temple area 'tempus', perhaps because grey hair there signals the passage of time (tempus = 'time'). The two meanings thus share a common origin, though they feel quite different today.