obsolete

[ob-suh-leet, ob-suh-leet]

adjective

1. no longer in general use; fallen into disuse.

   an obsolete expression.

   Antonyms: modern, new

2. of a discarded or outmoded type; out of date.

   an obsolete battleship.

   Synonyms: old, ancient, antiquated
   Antonyms: modern, new

3. (of a linguistic form) no longer in use, especially, out of use for at least the past century.

4. effaced by wearing down or away.

5. Biology.,  imperfectly developed or rudimentary in comparison with the corresponding character in other individuals, as of a different sex or of a related species.

verb (used with object)

obsoleted, obsoleting 

1. to make obsolete by replacing with something newer or better; antiquate.

   Automation has obsoleted many factory workers.

obsolete

/ ˌɒbsəˈliːt, ˈɒbsəˌliːt /

adjective

1. out of use or practice; not current

2. out of date; unfashionable or outmoded

3. biology (of parts, organs, etc) vestigial; rudimentary

Usage

Terms and definitions labeled Obsolete in this dictionary have not been in widespread use since the mid 1700s. Unlike some relatively familiar archaic words and phrases, like prithee and thou art, obsolete words and phrases are not easily understood by a modern reader, and obsolete senses of current terms, as found in definitions 13, 14, and 15 of nice, are even more difficult for a contemporary reader to recognize.

The word obsoleteness is hardly ever used, obsolescence standing as the noun form for both obsolete and obsolescent

Other Word Forms

• obsoletely adverb
• obsoleteness noun
• nonobsolete adjective
• subobsolete adjective
• subobsoletely adverb
• subobsoleteness noun
• unobsolete adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of obsolete¹

First recorded in 1570–80; from Latin obsolētus, past participle of obsolēscere “to fall into disuse,” perhaps equivalent to ob- ob- + sol(ēre) “to be accustomed to” + -ēscere -esce

Word History and Origins

Origin of obsolete¹

C16: from Latin obsolētus worn out, past participle of obsolēre (unattested), from ob- opposite to + solēre to be used

Example Sentences

On one hand, the 25-year-old worries digital replicas of models could render her job obsolete.

From Los Angeles Times

Considering the Meiji period was when the samurai became obsolete, the potential for social commentary mixed in with high-stakes combat seems pretty high.

From Los Angeles Times

This scenario also presumes the U.S. would only be acting in “self-defense” in response to a nuclear strike by another nation, although mutually assured destruction renders such concepts obsolete.

From Salon

It was so old that the process for developing the film is now obsolete, and Wayne needed to get creative with some unusual ingredients.

From BBC

Also, firms may have to pay more to store goods, and there was also a risk of items becoming obsolete, it said.

From BBC

Related Words

• antiquated 
• archaic 
• out-of-date 
• outmoded