obsolescent

[ob-suh-les-uhnt]

adjective

1. becoming obsolete; passing out of use, as a word.

   an obsolescent term.

2. becoming outdated or outmoded, as machinery or weapons.

3. Biology.,  gradually disappearing or imperfectly developed, as vestigial organs.

obsolescent

/ ˌɒbsəˈlɛsənt /

adjective

1. becoming obsolete or out of date

Other Word Forms

• obsolescently adverb
• obsolescence noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of obsolescent¹

First recorded in 1745–55, obsolescent is from the Latin word obsolēscent- (stem of obsolēscēns, present participle of obsolēscere to fall into disuse). See obsolete, -escent

Word History and Origins

Origin of obsolescent¹

C18: from Latin obsolescere; see _obsolete

Example Sentences

As traditional, human-dependent techniques and analog approaches to creation fade away, it makes the spirit of these increasingly obsolescent facets of society all the more precious.

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It was opened in 1974 and is now considered obsolescent; a replacement site in Maryland has already been chosen.

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“Without this investment strategy, much of the existing housing stock across the country would go into disrepair, become obsolescent, and in some cases become unlivable,” Schwartz said.

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But Randolph and Hastings always planned on video streaming rendering the DVD-by-mail service obsolescent once technology advanced to the point that watching movies and TV shows through internet connections became viable.

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The American mainstream news media's approaches to writing and reporting and truth-telling are obsolescent in a time of ascendant fascism and a democracy crisis.

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