Interim is a tricky word when it comes to spelling, as it has an unexpected silent letter. The IPA phonetic transcription for interim is /ˈɪn.tər.ɪm/. The first syllable is pronounced "in" with the short "i" sound, followed by a clear and audible "t" and "ər" vowel sound. The second syllable is pronounced with an emphasis on the short "i" sound, followed by the silent "m". Remembering the silent "m" is key to accurately spelling this commonly used word in English language.
Interim, as a noun, refers to a temporary period of time between two events or actions. It is characterized by the fact that it serves as a transition or a stopping point until a final or permanent solution is achieved. The term "interim" can be used to describe various situations or contexts, such as an interim government, an interim CEO, an interim report, or an interim solution.
In the context of a government, an interim government refers to a temporary administration established between two successive governments. This type of government is usually put in place during a period of political transition or crisis until a new government is elected or appointed. Similarly, an interim CEO is an individual who temporarily assumes the role of chief executive officer of a company until a permanent CEO is found or until a new executive is appointed.
In addition, the term "interim" can be used to describe an interim report, which is a preliminary or temporary document presenting findings, updates, or progress on a project or investigation. It provides a snapshot of the current state or progress of the work, without being the final or complete version.
Overall, "interim" refers to a transitional or temporary state, serving as a bridge or a placeholder until a more permanent or final state is achieved.
Time between or intervening.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "interim" has its origins in Latin. It is derived from the Latin phrase "in", meaning "between", and "tempus", meaning "time". Over time, the phrase was condensed into the Latin word "interim", which was then adopted into English. The term "interim" refers to a temporary or provisional period, typically between two events or stages.