object permanence

Meanings

nounobject permanence (uncountable)

uncountablehuman sciencesThe understanding (typically developed during early infancy) that an object still exists even when it disappears from sight, or other senses.

Chinese Mandarin 物體恆存 /物体恒存

物體恆存 /物体恒存 (wùtǐhéngcún)understanding that an object still exists when it disappears from sight

Finnish kohteen pysyvyys, objektikonsistanssi

kohteen pysyvyysunderstanding that an object still exists when it disappears from sight
objektikonsistanssiunderstanding that an object still exists when it disappears from sight
esinepysyvyysunderstanding that an object still exists when it disappears from sight

French permanence de l'objet

permanence de l'objetunderstanding that an object still exists when it disappears from sight

German Objektpermanenz

Objektpermanenzunderstanding that an object still exists when it disappears from sight

Hungarian tárgyállandóság

tárgyállandóságunderstanding that an object still exists when it disappears from sight

Polish trwałość obiektu

trwałość obiektuunderstanding that an object still exists when it disappears from sight

Portuguese permanência de objetos, permanência de objeto

permanência de objetosunderstanding that an object still exists when it disappears from sight
permanência de objetounderstanding that an object still exists when it disappears from sight

Swedish objektpermanens

objektpermanensunderstanding that an object still exists when it disappears from sight

Cite this entry

APA

object permanence. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/object%20permanence

MLA

“object permanence.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/object%20permanence. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “object permanence,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/object%20permanence.