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
1
: something of no lasting significance
usually used in plural
2
ephemera plural : paper items (such as posters, broadsides, and tickets) that were originally meant to be discarded after use but have since 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.
Woven around these, the story is told by 30 items of archival ephemera, including original bottles, heritage products, packaging, and artworks. Gemma A. Williams, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025 At the same time, archival collections have meticulously preserved their letters, diaries, and other ephemera for researchers to explore. The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 2 Apr. 2025 Scattered macabre ephemera include antique books, bronze statuettes, marble-like busts, and a suit of armor made of cardboard. Richard Brody, New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2025 In total, more than 70 artworks by 35 prominent African American artists, as well as ephemera from the Driskell Papers, exemplify the artists’ unique friendships. Chadd Scott, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Ephemera.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ephemera. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.

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