transient
UK: ˈtrænziənt | US: ˈtrænziənt
adj. lasting only for a short time; temporary
n. a person or thing that stays or works in a place for only a short time
Derived from Latin transiens (present participle of transire, "to go across"), the word evolved through Old French transient before entering English in the 16th century. It originally described physical movement (e.g., passing through a place) but later generalized to abstract temporariness. The morpheme trans- reflects transition, while -ient anchors it as a descriptive term.
The hotel caters mainly to transient guests.
Her happiness was transient, fading by the next morning.
The city has a large transient population during summer.
Transient electrical signals can disrupt the system.
He worked as a transient laborer, moving from farm to farm.