Meaning of ephemera | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A mayfly (genus Ephemera).
2. Manmade objects that are short-lived (under usual conditions), usually because their design intent is to be inexpensively made and thus affordably bought, a goal that often is an engineering trade-off versus durability.
3. Especially, such ephemera that are collectibles, such as (originally) cheap publications (e.g., pamphlets, brochures), single-use packaging from packaged goods, and giveaway or throwaway trinkets.
4. Published single-sheet or single-page documents which are meant to be thrown away after one use.
5. Transitory audiovisual matter not intended to be retained or preserved.
   broadly

Equivalents

Examples

“the ephemera of springtime”

“vintage ephemera”

“Vintage ephemera is similar to modern ephemera in that it consists of paper items that were designed to be short-lived. In past eras, people often saved everything from scraps of wrapping paper, greeting cards, matchbooks, paper coasters and other items that could be reused or that held personal significance. Consequently, it is relatively easy to find pieces of vintage ephemera at antique shops, flea markets, garage sales, online auction sites and Internet shops […]”

“The appeal of certain pieces of ephemera lies in their design quality, like my tea bag tag. Yet another reason for assembling a collection is the desire to travel back in time and connect to another era. Historically minded collectors may choose to focus on World War II memorabilia or a particular World's Fair or Exposition. The desire to collect often encompasses more than one of these reasons. Ephemera takes on added significance precisely because of the unique, idiosyncratic […]”

“Now the model sits on a shelf in York's 'Warehouse' (known these days as the 'North Shed'), together with racks full of lamps, cutlery, and other ephemera from half-forgotten railway companies of long ago.”

“Everything at the fair was considered “antiquarian books or ephemera”. Ephemera are things like maps, photos, posters, menus, autographs. A pair of shoes worn in Singin' in the Rain. Anything considered “historical evidence”.”

“video ephemera”

“audio ephemera”

“These names, and many more, are, in various parts of the country, applied to an ephemera, which appears in most, if not all of the Trout waters of these kingdoms, throughout the whole season, although in greater numbers during spring and autumn, than at other times.”

“Ephemeras are abundant and they are preying upon surface life.”

CEFR level