defunct
Americanadjective
-
no longer in effect or use; not operating or functioning.
a defunct law; a defunct organization.
-
no longer in existence; dead; extinct.
a defunct person; a defunct tribe of Indians.
noun
adjective
-
no longer living; dead or extinct
-
no longer operative or valid
Other Word Forms
- defunctive adjective
- defunctness noun
- nondefunct adjective
Etymology
Origin of defunct
1540–50; < Latin dēfunctus discharged, dead (past participle of dēfungī ), equivalent to dē- de- + functus performed; function
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
At a defunct power plant, Musk announced plans to build a semiconductor manufacturing plant, to be a joint venture among Tesla, xAI, and SpaceX.
From Barron's • Mar. 23, 2026
At least one person associated with the transactions of the defunct tech company is cooperating with federal prosecutors, according to two sources familiar with the investigation.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 2026
One early party he planned—a Halloween rave at a defunct plastics plant that was a registered toxic-waste site—was shut down by the fire department after it deemed the place unsafe.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026
That day was also celebrated as May Day in the now defunct Soviet Union with parades in Red Square.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 4, 2026
The sea fisheries w ere defunct several years ago; the few fish they have now are from fish farms, and taste muddy.
From "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
