Regular vs. Permanent: What's the Difference?
By Janet White & Harlon Moss || Updated on May 22, 2024
Regular refers to something occurring at fixed intervals, while permanent denotes something lasting indefinitely without change. Both describe frequency and duration but in different contexts.
Key Differences
Regular implies a consistent, repeating pattern or occurrence. This term is used to describe events, habits, or conditions that happen at uniform intervals. For example, regular meetings might occur weekly or monthly, ensuring predictability and routine. Permanent, on the other hand, indicates something that is intended to last indefinitely. It suggests a state or condition that does not change over time. For instance, permanent markers leave ink that cannot be easily removed, reflecting a lasting effect.
Regular is often associated with routine and predictability. Regular activities help in planning and maintaining a structured schedule. They offer a sense of stability, knowing that certain events or actions will recur at set times. Permanent denotes enduring and unchangeable status. When something is labeled as permanent, it implies a long-term or irreversible nature. This is seen in contexts such as permanent employment, which suggests job security and longevity, unlike temporary positions.
In medical contexts, regular check-ups imply periodic visits to the doctor for ongoing health monitoring. Permanent conditions refer to chronic or unchangeable health issues that require long-term management. Regular can sometimes lead to permanency over time, such as regular exercise becoming a permanent lifestyle habit. However, regularity itself does not guarantee permanence, as the pattern may change.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Occurring at fixed intervals
Lasting indefinitely without change
Duration
Repeating over time
Enduring, unchangeable
ADVERTISEMENT
Predictability
High, consistent pattern
Unchanging, stable
Common Usage
Events, schedules, habits
States, conditions, employment
Context
Routine and structure
Longevity and irreversibility
Regular and Permanent Definitions
Regular
Occurring at consistent intervals.
She attends regular yoga classes every Monday.
Permanent
Lasting indefinitely without change.
She got a permanent tattoo on her wrist.
ADVERTISEMENT
Regular
Habitual or customary.
Regular exercise is essential for health.
Permanent
Not temporary or transient.
The sculpture was placed on permanent display in the museum.
Regular
Customary, usual, or normal
The train's regular schedule.
Permanent
Intended to last for a long time.
They offered him a permanent job after the probation period.
Regular
Orderly, even, or symmetrical
Regular teeth.
Permanent
Irreversible or unchangeable.
Permanent damage was done to the environment.
Regular
In conformity with a fixed procedure, principle, or discipline.
Permanent
Lasting or remaining without essential change
"the universal human yearning for something permanent, enduring, without shadow of change" (Willa Cather).
Regular
Well-ordered; methodical
Regular habits.
Permanent
Not expected to change in status, condition, or place
A permanent address.
Permanent secretary to the president.
Regular
Occurring at fixed intervals; periodic
Regular payments.
Permanent
Any of several long-lasting hair styles usually achieved by chemical applications that straighten, curl, or wave the hair.
Regular
Having bowel movements or menstrual periods with normal frequency.
Permanent
Without end, eternal.
Nothing in this world is truly permanent.
Regular
Not varying; constant.
Permanent
Lasting for an indefinitely long time.
The countries are now locked in a permanent state of conflict.
Regular
Formally correct; proper.
Permanent
A chemical hair treatment imparting or removing curliness, whose effects typically last for a period of weeks; a perm.
Regular
Having the required qualifications for an occupation
Not a regular lawyer.
Permanent
Given an matrix , the sum over all permutations of .
Regular
(Informal) Complete; thorough
A regular scoundrel.
Permanent
(trading card games) A card whose effects persist beyond the turn on which it is played.
Regular
(Informal) Good; nice
A regular guy.
Permanent
To perm (the hair).
Regular
(Botany) Having symmetrically arranged parts of similar size and shape
Regular flowers.
Permanent
Continuing in the same state, or without any change that destroys form or character; remaining unaltered or unremoved; abiding; durable; fixed; stable; lasting; as, a permanent impression.
Eternity stands permanent and fixed.
Regular
(Grammar) Conforming to the usual pattern of inflection, derivation, or word formation.
Permanent
A series of waves in the hair made by applying heat and chemicals
Regular
(Ecclesiastical) Belonging to a religious order and bound by its rules
The regular clergy.
Permanent
Continuing or enduring without marked change in status or condition or place;
Permanent secretary to the president
Permanent address
Literature of permanent value
Regular
Having equal sides and equal angles. Used of polygons.
Permanent
Not capable of being reversed or returned to the original condition;
Permanent brain damage
Regular
Having faces that are congruent regular polygons and congruent polyhedral angles. Used of polyhedrons.
Permanent
Enduring without cessation.
The bridge has a permanent foundation.
Regular
Belonging to or constituting the permanent army of a nation.
Regular
(Ecclesiastical) A member of the clergy or of a religious order.
Regular
A soldier belonging to a regular army.
Regular
A dependable loyal person
One of the party regulars.
Regular
A clothing size designed for persons of average height.
Regular
A habitual customer.
Regular
(Christianity) Bound by religious rule; belonging to a monastic or religious order (often as opposed to secular).
Regular clergy, in distinction from the secular clergy
Regular
Having a constant pattern; showing evenness of form or appearance.
Regular
Both equilateral and equiangular; having all sides of the same length, and all (corresponding) angles of the same size
Regular
Whose faces are all congruent regular polygons, equally inclined to each other.
Regular
Demonstrating a consistent set of rules; showing order, evenness of operation or occurrence.
Regular
(astronomy) Of a moon or other satellite: following a relatively close and prograde orbit with little inclination or eccentricity.
Regular
Well-behaved, orderly; restrained (of a lifestyle etc.).
Regular
Happening at constant (especially short) intervals.
He made regular visits to go see his mother.
Regular
Following a set or common pattern; according to the normal rules of a given language.
"Walked" is the past tense of the regular verb "to walk".
Regular
Having the expected characteristics or appearances; normal, ordinary, standard.
Regular
Permanently organised; being part of a set professional body of troops.
Regular
Having bowel movements or menstrual periods at constant intervals in the expected way.
Maintaining a high-fibre diet keeps you regular.
Regular
(colloquial) Exemplary; excellent example of; utter, downright.
A regular genius; a regular John Bull
Regular
Having all the parts of the same kind alike in size and shape.
A regular flower; a regular sea urchin
Regular
(crystallography) Isometric.
Regular
(snowboarding) Riding with the left foot forward.
Regular
Such that every set in its domain is both outer regular and inner regular.
Regular
Regularly, on a regular basis.
Regular
A member of the British Army (as opposed to a member of the Territorial Army or Reserve).
Regular
A frequent, routine visitor to an establishment.
Bartenders usually know their regulars by name.
Regular
A member of an armed forces or police force.
Regular
A frequent customer, client or business partner.
This gentleman was one of the architect's regulars.
Regular
(Canada) A coffee with one cream and one sugar.
Regular
Anything that is normal or standard.
Regular
A member of a religious order who has taken the three ordinary vows.
Regular
A number for each year, giving, added to the concurrents, the number of the day of the week on which the Paschal full moon falls.
Regular
A fixed number for each month serving to ascertain the day of the week, or the age of the moon, on the first day of any month.
Regular
Conformed to a rule; agreeable to an established rule, law, principle, or type, or to established customary forms; normal; symmetrical; as, a regular verse in poetry; a regular piece of music; a regular verb; regular practice of law or medicine; a regular building.
Regular
Governed by rule or rules; steady or uniform in course, practice, or occurence; not subject to unexplained or irrational variation; returning at stated intervals; steadily pursued; orderlly; methodical; as, the regular succession of day and night; regular habits.
Regular
Constituted, selected, or conducted in conformity with established usages, rules, or discipline; duly authorized; permanently organized; as, a regular meeting; a regular physican; a regular nomination; regular troops.
Regular
Belonging to a monastic order or community; as, regular clergy, in distinction dfrom the secular clergy.
Regular
Thorough; complete; unmitigated; as, a regular humbug.
Regular
Having all the parts of the same kind alike in size and shape; as, a regular flower; a regular sea urchin.
Regular
Same as Isometric.
Regular
A member of any religious order or community who has taken the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and who has been solemnly recognized by the church.
Regular
A soldier belonging to a permanent or standing army; - chiefly used in the plural.
Regular
A regular patron;
An habitue of the racetrack
A bum who is a Central Park fixture
Regular
A soldier in the regular army
Regular
A dependable follower (especially in party politics);
He is one of the party regulars
Regular
A garment size for persons of average height and weight
Regular
In accordance with fixed order or procedure or principle;
His regular calls on his customers
Regular meals
Regular duties
Regular
Often used as intensifiers;
A regular morass of details
A regular nincompoop
He's a veritable swine
Regular
Conforming to a standard or pattern;
Following the regular procedure of the legislature
A regular electrical outlet
Regular
(of solids) having clear dimensions that can be measured; volume can be determined with a suitable geometric formula
Regular
Regularly scheduled for fixed times;
At a regular meeting of the PTA
Regular bus departures
Regular
In accord with regular practice or procedure;
Took his regular morning walk
Her regular bedtime
Regular
Occurring at fixed intervals;
A regular beat
The even rhythm of his breathing
Regular
Relating to a person who does something regularly;
A regular customer
A steady drinker
Regular
(used of the military) belonging to or engaged in by legitimate army forces;
The regular army
Regular
Not constipated
Regular
Symmetrically arranged;
Even features
Regular features
A regular polygon
Regular
Not deviating from what is normal;
Her regular bedtime
Regular
Officially full-time;
Regular students
Regular
Conforming to a standard or pattern.
He follows a regular sleep schedule.
Regular
Evenly spaced or uniform.
The garden has regular rows of plants.
Regular
Normal or usual.
He is a regular customer at the cafe.
FAQs
Can something be both regular and permanent?
Yes, a permanent routine can involve regular, unchanging actions.
Is regular the same as frequent?
Regular implies consistency at specific intervals, while frequent means occurring often but not necessarily at set intervals.
What are examples of permanent conditions?
Permanent conditions include chronic illnesses, permanent markers, and long-term employment.
What are examples of regular events?
Regular events include weekly meetings, daily routines, and monthly bills.
Is permanent always unchangeable?
Yes, permanent implies an enduring, unchangeable state.
What does regular mean?
Regular means occurring at consistent, fixed intervals, indicating a predictable pattern.
What does permanent mean?
Permanent means lasting indefinitely without change, indicating a long-term, unchanging state.
Can regular actions become permanent?
Regular actions can lead to permanent habits or conditions over time.
Is regular always predictable?
Yes, regular implies a predictable pattern.
What is permanent residency?
Permanent residency grants an individual the right to live indefinitely in a country.
Are regular updates necessary?
Regular updates are necessary for maintaining consistency and functionality.
Are permanent fixtures movable?
Permanent fixtures are generally not intended to be moved.
Can permanent things change?
Permanent things are intended to remain unchanged, although external forces might alter them.
Is permanent synonymous with eternal?
Permanent suggests a long-term, enduring state, while eternal implies infinite duration.
Can regular schedules change?
Regular schedules can change, but they follow a consistent pattern until then.
What is a regular customer?
A regular customer visits a place frequently and consistently.
Can regular use lead to wear and tear?
Yes, regular use can lead to wear and tear over time.
How does regular employment differ from permanent employment?
Regular employment refers to consistent work patterns, while permanent employment indicates long-term job security.
Is regular synonymous with routine?
Regular often implies routine due to its consistent pattern.
How does regular maintenance differ from permanent solutions?
Regular maintenance is ongoing, while permanent solutions aim to resolve issues indefinitely.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Co-written by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
