discarded

American

[dih-skahr-did] / dɪˈskɑr dɪd /

adjective

having been disposed of, cast out, or put aside.

The fire is believed to have been started by a discarded match or cigarette.
The sprocket wheel and chain were scavenged from a discarded bicycle.

verb

the simple past tense and past participle of discard.

Other Word Forms

undiscarded adjective

Etymology

Origin of discarded

discard ( def. ) + -ed ²

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“Intruders have set fires, burning holes in the floors and scorching wood wainscoting and pews. Empty beef jerky bags, discarded underwear and clumps of plaster litter the worn burgundy carpeting.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

A nationwide search for Nancy Guthrie has unveiled several leads, including discarded gloves, DNA evidence and alleged ransom notes, but it has not lead to any major progress.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

No suspect has been identified and announcements of potential clues -- including discarded gloves -- have not led to further progress.

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

Jane Magnusson recalled rescuing a first edition of Ernest Hemingway’s “The Sun Also Rises” that her mother might otherwise have discarded or given to a stranger.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

I discarded my high-necked blouses and began to wear more fashionable cuts—fitted, often sleeveless, with less restrictive necklines.

From "Educated" by Tara Westover

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023