# temporal vs temporary

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### temporal
*adjective · IPA /ˈtɛm.pə.ɹəl/ · frequency rank #12,517*
Of or relating to the material world, as opposed to sacred or clerical.

### temporary
*adjective · IPA /ˈtɛmpəɹəɹi/ · frequency rank #3,143*
Not permanent; existing only for a period or periods of time.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/temporal-vs-temporary