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 of a discarded or outmoded type; out of date.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 out of date; unfashionable or outmoded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

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

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.

Other Word Forms

• obsoleteness noun
• obsoletely adverb
• 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

There was just one problem with Minnesota’s plan: the potential surplus value offered by McCarthy’s contract has been rendered obsolete by the fact he has been completely terrible.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Given there are safer and more conventional riot-control agents available to police, an obsolete and more potent agent could be classed as a chemical weapon, according to weapons experts consulted by the BBC.

Read more on BBC

But streaming blew this obsolete model out of the water.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

What looked dominant five years ago is now obsolete.

Read more on Barron's

But she might need a fallback for her fallback: That once-hot job has been rendered obsolete as AI has become better at understanding poorly written prompts.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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• out-of-date 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