planned obsolescence

American  

noun

1. a method of stimulating consumer demand by designing products that wear out or become outmoded after limited use.

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planned obsolescence British  

noun

1. Also called: built-in obsolescence. the policy of deliberately limiting the life of a product in order to encourage the purchaser to replace it

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planned obsolescence Cultural  

1. Incorporating into a product features that will almost certainly go out of favor in a short time, thereby inducing the consumer to purchase a new model of the product. Placing sweeping tail fins on an automobile was an example of planned obsolescence.

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Etymology

Origin of planned obsolescence

First recorded in 1965–70

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

planned obsolescence

Acme is essentially running our society, too, crushing consumers with shrinkflation, planned obsolescence and help lines staffed by AI bots.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026

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promote sustainable consumption and prevent planned obsolescence, which is when companies programme products to become out of date after a certain period.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 ● Nov. 19, 2025

Apple was accused of the same so-called planned obsolescence in 2022, and again in 2023.

From Salon ● Jun. 18, 2023

Like smartphones or other luxury gadgets that run the treadmill of planned obsolescence, video cards are being constantly introduced in new variants, with new features.

From Slate ● Jan. 25, 2021

My excuse is that in this era of planned obsolescence, when a thing breaks down I can usually find something in my collection to repair it—a toilet, or a motor, or a lawn mower.

From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck

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