ephemera

noun

ephem·​era i-ˈfe-mə-rə How to pronounce ephemera (audio)
-ˈfem-rə
plural ephemera also ephemerae i-ˈfe-mə-rē How to pronounce ephemera (audio)
-ˈfem-rē
 or ephemeras
Synonyms of ephemera
1
: something of no lasting significance
—usually plural
2
ephemera plural : items (such as posters, broadsides, and tickets) originally meant to be discarded after use but that later become collectibles

Examples of ephemera in a Sentence

He has a large collection of old menus and other ephemera.
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.
There’s the menagerie of found object ephemera that provides a sense of intimacy and personality (look for the wild bit of art hanging in the spa entrance). — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026 Running Tuesday through Sunday, the free, all-ages event will feature rare artifacts, photographs, ephemera, instruments and other memorabilia from the album’s era. — Alex Distefano, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026 This becomes clear when, moving on from ephemera, the exhibit turns cerebral. — J. Hoberman, ARTnews.com, 9 Oct. 2026 Much of the Red Barn’s irreplaceable art and ephemera, meticulously and lovingly curated over the years, was lost — but the music series, powered by the fireproof resiliency of those who oversee the collective, barely skipped a beat. — Aaron Davis, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ephemera

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek ephēmera, neuter plural of ephēmeros

First Known Use

1650, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ephemera was in 1650

Rhymes for ephemera

See All Rhymes for ephemera

Browse Nearby Words

ephedrine
ephemera
ephemeral
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ephemera.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ephemera. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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