temporality

noun

tem·​po·​ral·​i·​ty ˌtem-pə-ˈra-lə-tē How to pronounce temporality (audio)
plural temporalities
1
a
: civil or political as distinguished from spiritual or ecclesiastical power or authority
b
: an ecclesiastical property or revenue
—often used in plural
2
: the quality or state of being temporal

Examples of temporality in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But in producing visual work, temporality is fixed or frozen. — Laura Brown, Artforum, 25 Mar. 2026 There was a lack of temporality, a sense that the point of being there was not to see things, necessarily, but to simply be. — Hanya Yanagihara, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Nov. 2018 Black Age reminds us of the ways that anti-Blackness warps temporality. — Jordan Taliha McDonald, Vulture, 19 June 2024 Birth taught me—forced me—to imagine and experience temporality differently. — Literary Hub, 16 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for temporality

Word History

Etymology

Middle English temperalte, temporalte, temporalyte (in plural or collective) "worldly matters, secular authority," borrowed from Anglo-French temporalté, temporalité, borrowed from Late Latin temporālitāt-, temporālitās "temporary character, duration of the present time," from Latin temporālis temporal entry 1 + -itāt-, -itās -ity

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of temporality was in the 14th century

Rhymes for temporality

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Browse Nearby Words

temporalistic
temporality
temporalize
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Temporality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/temporality. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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