Ephemeral/ɪˈfemərəl/ Definition 1 of 4Pro Tip 1/3Brief Existence Ephemeral describes something with a lifespan or relevance that is very brief, possibly unexpected. The fame of internet celebrities can be ephemeral. Pro Tip 2/3Often Figurative Used metaphorically to emphasize the fleeting nature of time, experiences, or phenomena. Youth's ephemeral joys quickly fade as we age. Pro Tip 3/3Not Negative Doesn't imply a negative judgment, it just states the short duration of something. Ephemeral trends can still have lasting impacts.