Cool MateFull-time vs Permanent
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Full-time
Top 2,000 (common)B1noun
Permanent
Top 2,000 (common)B2adjective
| Full-time | Permanent | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌfʊl ˈtaɪm/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌfʊl ˈtaɪm/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈpɜːmənənt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈpɜːrmənənt/"]/ |
| Meaning | Working all the hours of a regular job, usually 40 hours a week. | Lasting forever or a long time without changing. |
| Example | The referee blew his whistle for full time. | The tattoo on her arm is a permanent reminder of her travels. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | B2 |
| Part of speech | noun | adjective |
| Collocations | full-time job, full-time employee, full-time position | be, prove, seem, almost, relatively, seemingly |
| Antonyms | part-time, temporary | temporary, transient, fleeting |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'part-time', which means working fewer hours., Using it to describe unpaid work, which isn't usually correct., Misplacing the hyphen, writing 'full time' instead of 'full-time'. | Confused with 'temporary' which means the opposite., Using it to describe things that are not fixed like temporary jobs., Spelling errors or misuse of similar-sounding words. |
| Usage notes | Usually used in job descriptions or discussions about work hours. Not typically used in informal contexts. | Use 'permanent' when something is fixed or unchangeable. It's suitable for both formal and everyday contexts, but avoid using it when speaking about temporary situations. |
Frequently asked questions: Full-time vs Permanent
What's the difference between Full-time and Permanent?
Full-time: Working all the hours of a regular job, usually 40 hours a week. Permanent: Lasting forever or a long time without changing.
Are Full-time and Permanent the same CEFR level?
Full-time: B1, Permanent: B2 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Full-time and Permanent interchangeably?
Not always. Full-time and Permanent are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.