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.

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

Yeesookyung collects ceramic shards of work discarded by master craftsmen due to minor flaws and reassembles these fragments into bubbling sculptures held together with 24 karat gold.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

Nearby, a tactical belt with pouches for holding gun magazines was discarded on the ground alongside several articles of designer clothing, including a pair of Christian Dior underpants.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 1, 2026

During a lull in business, Evan walked all around the stand, picking up discarded plastic cups.

From "The Lemonade War" by Jacqueline Davies

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