Shortlasting

Shortlasting is an adjective used to describe something that endures only for a brief period of time. The term combines the words “short” and “lasting,” emphasizing the fleeting nature of an event, sensation, or object. In contemporary English, shortlasting is often employed in literary and journalistic contexts to convey the transitory quality of experiences such as emotions, trends, or natural phenomena.

The word entered common usage in the early twentieth century, appearing in poetry and prose to contrast with more permanent descriptors like lasting or enduring. It is synonymous with terms such as fleeting, temporary, and momentary, though shortlasting may carry a slightly more poetic connotation. In scientific literature, the term is occasionally applied to describe phenomena with brief durations, for example, shortlasting chemical reactions or shortlasting climatic events.

Cultural references to shortlasting appear in music, where several songs and album titles evoke the idea of brief but intense experiences. The concept also informs philosophical discussions about impermanence, especially within Buddhist thought, where the acknowledgment of shortlasting conditions underlies teachings on attachment and suffering.

Although not a technical term in any specialized field, shortlasting remains a useful descriptive word in both everyday language and artistic expression, encapsulating the notion that some aspects of life are inherently brief.