Temporary state (5)
I believe the answer is:
phase
'temporary state' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for phase that I've seen before include "Any distinct time period" , "Carry out in stages" , "Truman -, US novelist" , "Passing stage" , "A particular point in the time of a cycle" .)