obsolescence

American  

[ob-suh-les-uhns] / ˌɒb səˈlɛs əns /

noun

1. the state, process, or condition of being or becoming obsolete.

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obsolescence Cultural  

1. A decline in the value of equipment or of a product brought about by an introduction of new technology or by changes in demand. (See planned obsolescence.)

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Etymology

Origin of obsolescence

First recorded in 1820–30; obsolesc(ent) + -ence

Example Sentences

The film vaults across eight decades, but tonally it’s as still as a rabbit snare, letting the audience creep up to its theme of human obsolescence.

From Los Angeles Times

Those are the ones most vulnerable to disruption and obsolescence in the long term.

From Barron's

One day the mighty data centre could be toppled into obsolescence by the humble smartphone, said Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas on a recent podcast.

From BBC

When leaders act from fear of obsolescence, being outpaced or irrelevance, they activate those same threat responses in employees.

From MarketWatch

The EU's consumer strategy presented on Wednesday seeks to promote sustainable consumption and prevent planned obsolescence, which is when companies programme products to become out of date after a certain period.

From Barron's

Related Words

• annihilation
• destruction
• elimination