permanent

/ˈpər-mə-nənt/

Middle English, from Anglo-French parmanant, from Latin permanent-, permanens, present participle of permanēre to endure, from per- throughout + manēre to remain

adjective

  1. continuing or enduring without fundamental or marked change : stable

  2. not easily removed, washed away, or erased : indelible

  3. making marks that cannot easily be removed : indelible

the museum's permanent art collection

lasting permanent durable stable mean enduring for so long as to seem fixed or established. lasting implies a capacity to continue indefinitely. permanent adds usually the implication of being designed or planned to stand or continue indefinitely.

noun

  1. a long-lasting hair wave produced by mechanical and chemical means —called also permanent wave

noun

  1. a magnet that retains its magnetism after removal of the magnetizing force