ShortLived

Shortlived is an adjective describing something that lasts for only a brief period. It can refer to events, trends, organisms, relationships, or other phenomena that exist or endure for a short time. In many contexts, the term is descriptive rather than evaluative, though it can carry connotations of volatility, impermanence, or fragility depending on use.

Orthography and etymology: The conventional spelling in English is short-lived, a hyphenated compound adjective formed from short and lived (the past participle of live). The version without a hyphen, shortlived, is sometimes encountered but is less standard and often restricted to titles, branding, or stylistic choices. The form with a hyphen has been widely used since at least the 19th century.

Usage notes: Short-lived typically functions attributively before a noun as a modifier, as in a short-lived fad, though many editors also accept the predicative use after a linking verb, as in the fad was short-lived. Related terms include ephemeral, transitory, fleeting, and passing; antonyms include enduring, lasting, and permanent. In biology, short-lived can describe species with brief life spans compared with their long-lived counterparts.

Overall, short-lived conveys brevity of duration and is widely used across disciplines to characterize transient phenomena. It can describe things that are ephemeral in nature, as well as processes or relationships that fail to endure. The nuance often depends on context, with possible implications for significance or fragility.