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temporaire
/tɑ̃.pɔ.ʁɛʁ/
temporary
Il a un emploi temporaire dans cette entreprise.
He has a temporary job at this company.
neutral
lasting for a limited or short time; not permanent
Nous avons trouvé un logement temporaire en attendant de déménager.
We found temporary housing while waiting to move.
Son contrat est temporaire, il se termine dans trois mois.
His contract is temporary and ends in three months.
Often used in administrative, legal, or employment contexts to describe positions, solutions, or arrangements.
Engineering
technical
intended to be used for a short period only
Une solution temporaire a été mise en place pour éviter une panne.
A temporary solution was implemented to prevent a breakdown.
In engineering, refers to provisional fixes or measures.
Collocations
solution temporairetemporary solutionemploi temporairetemporary joblogement temporairetemporary housingcontrat temporairetemporary contract
Pro Tip
Avoid confusion with 'provisoire'
'Temporaire' and 'provisoire' are often interchangeable, but 'temporaire' is more commonly used in administrative and employment contexts (e.g., 'contrat temporaire'). 'Provisoire' may sound slightly more technical or legal.
Gold Rule
Use 'temporaire' for short-term roles
When describing jobs, contracts, or solutions that are not permanent, 'temporaire' is the most natural choice in French.
Word Origin
From Latin *temporarius* (belonging to time), derived from *tempus* (time). The word entered French in the 14th century with the same sense.
Usage Notes
Used interchangeably with 'provisoire' in most contexts, though 'temporaire' often implies a slightly shorter duration. In formal writing, 'temporaire' is preferred over 'provisoire' for employment contracts.
Word Breakdown
temp-
time
root-oraire
relating to
suffixDictionnaire Français-Anglais