ephemera
gb/ˈɛfɪmɚə/ us/ˈɛfɪmɚə/
C1
English
múló apróságok, efemera, aprónyomtatvány, Ephemera
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
1
efemera
C2
Usage pattern:
the ephemera of [something]
The memoir is full of the ephemera of everyday life—bus tickets, overheard jokes, and half-remembered songs.
Az emlékirat tele van a hétköznapi élet múló apróságaival — buszjegyekkel, elcsípett viccekkel és félig felidézett dalokkal.
Her photographs turn ordinary ephemera into something worth noticing.
A fotói a hétköznapi múló apróságokat is olyasmivé változtatják, amire érdemes felfigyelni.
The show captured the ephemera of a city summer: flyers, street chatter, and late-night light.
Learner examples
I kept the ephemera from our trip.
Megőriztem az utunkról maradt apróságokat.
Most ephemera disappear quickly.
A legtöbb ilyen múló apróság gyorsan eltűnik.
Common mistake:
Ephemera is usually treated as a collective noun; avoid *an ephemera*. Say "a piece/item of ephemera" instead. Also don’t confuse it with the adjective ephemeral.
Meaning
short-lived things collectively
Collocations
the ephemera of daily life
|cultural ephemera
|urban ephemera
|digital ephemera
|political ephemera
|the ephemera of social media
|the ephemera of childhood
|the ephemera of fashion
|collect the ephemera
|ephemera of the moment
Synonyms
transients (emphasizes things that pass quickly.)
|
fleeting details (focuses on small, easily overlooked aspects.)
Antonyms
permanence (the state of lasting or remaining unchanged.)
|
enduring works (things created to last and be preserved.)
Themes
culture
|daily_life
|time
Definition
small things that do not last long.
Things that are short-lived, quickly forgotten, or not meant to last, considered as a group.
NOUN
C1
2
efemera
C2
Usage pattern:
[someone] collects ephemera; a collection of ephemera
The museum acquired a trove of ephemera from the 1960s, including flyers, menus, and campaign buttons.
A múzeum az 1960-as évekből származó aprónyomtatványok nagy gyűjteményét szerezte meg, köztük szórólapokat, étlapokat és kampányjelvényeket.
He collects railway ephemera like old timetables and station posters.
Régi menetrendekhez és állomási plakátokhoz hasonló vasúti aprónyomtatványokat gyűjt.
The archive catalogued the ephemera from the festival—wristbands, programs, and maps.
Learner examples
She keeps ephemera like tickets and postcards.
Megőrzi az olyan aprónyomtatványokat, mint a jegyek és a képeslapok.
The library has a large ephemera collection.
A könyvtárnak nagy aprónyomtatvány-gyűjteménye van.
Common mistake:
Don’t use *ephemeras* as a plural; ephemera already refers to many items. For one object, say "an item/piece of ephemera."
Meaning
collectible short-term printed items
Collocations
printed ephemera
|paper ephemera
|advertising ephemera
|political ephemera
|theatre ephemera
|concert ephemera
|travel ephemera
|a box of ephemera
|a collection of ephemera
|ephemera dealer
Synonyms
memorabilia (usually kept for personal or fan value, not necessarily disposable at first.)
|
keepsakes (highlights sentimental value more than documentary value.)
Antonyms
books (bound publications typically intended to be kept long-term.)
|
official records (documents created to be preserved and referenced.)
Themes
arts
|media
|history
|shopping
Definition
paper items like tickets or flyers that people often throw away, but some people collect them.
Printed materials produced for temporary use or a specific occasion (such as tickets, flyers, posters, menus, or brochures), often kept or collected later because they document everyday culture.
NOUN
C2
TECHNICAL
3
Ephemera
C2
Usage pattern:
Ephemera [singular taxonomic name]; ephemera [plural common reference, rare]
In the guide, Ephemera is listed as a genus of mayflies found near clean rivers.
A határozóban az Ephemera a tiszta folyók közelében élő kérészek egyik nemzetségeként szerepel.
The researcher compared Ephemera species across several regions.
A kutató több régióban hasonlította össze az Ephemera fajait.
Common mistake:
This meaning is uncommon in everyday English; most uses of ephemera refer to short-lived things or collectible printed items.
Meaning
mayflies (esp. in taxonomy)
Collocations
the genus Ephemera
|Ephemera danica
|mayfly ephemera (rare)
|Ephemera species
Synonyms
mayflies (the common name; broader and not taxonomic.)
Themes
nature
|biology
Definition
a scientific name related to mayflies.
Mayflies, or a particular group of mayflies, especially when used as a scientific name in classification.
Grammar
Dictionary form
ephemera
IPA
GB/ˈɛfɪmɚə/
US/ˈɛfɪmɚə/
Syllables & stress
eph - em - era (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (eph)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: ephemera
- Plural: ephemeras
Word family
Forms
ephemeras
noun
Core family
ephemeral
adjective C1
Related words
ephemerality
noun C1
Advanced or less common
ephemerally
adverb
Expressions
printed ephemera
1/pɹˈɪntɪd ˈɛfɪmɚə/
fixed phrase
temporary printed items for events
paper items like tickets or flyers that were not meant to be kept.
Examples
- The archive specializes in printed ephemera from early cinema, including programs and lobby cards.
- She framed a piece of printed ephemera from the original exhibition poster.
- Collectors pay surprising amounts for printed ephemera from famous concerts.
Learner examples
- The museum keeps printed ephemera from old shows.
the ephemera of [something]
1/ðə ˈɛfɪmɚə əv sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
formal
small temporary details of life
the small things that do not last long in a situation.
Examples
- The essay lingers on the ephemera of office life: calendars, coffee cups, and sticky notes.
- She photographs the ephemera of travel, from receipts to room keys.
- The novel is built from the ephemera of memory rather than big dramatic events.
Learner examples
- He writes about the ephemera of city life.