defunct

American  

[dih-fuhngkt] / dɪˈfʌŋkt /

adjective

1. no longer in effect or use; not operating or functioning.

   a defunct law; a defunct organization.

2. no longer in existence; dead; extinct.

   a defunct person; a defunct tribe of Indians.

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noun

1. the defunct, the dead person referred to.

   the survivors of the defunct.

defunct British  

/ dɪˈfʌŋkt /

adjective

1. no longer living; dead or extinct

2. no longer operative or valid

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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; see function

Explanation

Defunct describes something that used to exist, but is now gone. A magazine that no longer publishes, like Sassy, the girl-power mag from the '90s, is defunct, for example. Although defunct comes from the Latin word defunctus meaning "dead," it's not usually used to describe a person who's no longer with us, but rather institutions, projects, companies and political parties — you know, the boring stuff. Keep digging and you'll find that defunctus comes from defungi, meaning, "to finish," which is closer to how it's used today. Defunct can also refer to a rule or law that's no longer used or has become inactive, like prohibition.

Example Sentences

Kinahan also had ties to the world of sport via his now defunct boxing management company MTK Global, which represented more than 100 boxers including Tyson Fury and Carl Frampton.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

While it’s defunct now, CosMc’s helped McDonald’s gain insights into what resonates with customers and what doesn’t.

From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026

Signage for new and defunct art galleries appear with letters roasted dry by the relentless California sun until the edges of words peel away, looking like they were written in calligraphy.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 12, 2026

“Vladimir” begs comparison to two other fairly recent defunct and superior comedies, for different reasons.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026

After all, the Stasi was defunct, its infamous archives looted—many of them sold off, he suspected, to the CIA itself.

From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau

Related Words

• nonexistent
• obsolete
• vanished