Ephemera
[ih-FEM-ər-ə]
Part of speech: noun
Origin: Latin, 14th century
1.
Things that exist or are used or enjoyed for only a short time.
2.
Items of collectible memorabilia, typically written or printed ones, that were originally expected to have only short-term usefulness or popularity.
Examples of Ephemera in a sentence
"Realizing many of his belongings were basically ephemera, Greg donated them to charity before he moved."
"When Sara is at the fair, she’d rather eat decadent foods than win ephemera on the midway."
About Ephemera
“Ephemera” is taken directly from the Latin, where it was borrowed from the ancient Greek “ἐφήμερᾰ” (“ephḗmera”), meaning “short lived” or “living for a day.”
Did you Know?
In the world of collectibles, “ephemera” refers to a broad category of items that were never intended to last a long time or have any particular value. This category includes things such as old periodicals, receipts, tickets, and product packaging, as well as outdated maps and documents that are now obsolete. All of these items were intended to exist for a very short period of time, but to modern collectors, ephemera from years ago provides a clear picture of life in the past.
