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 member of the public was killed after handling the delivery device, a discarded perfume bottle, triggering the largest Western expulsion in decades of Russian diplomats alleged to be spies.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 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

Most campaigns aim for a minimum of 1.3 million, assuming some will be discarded for clerical reasons, including people who signed the same petition twice or aren’t registered to vote in California.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

Burger, who, like the others, was wearing a bathing suit, shoved his uniform into the canvas bag along with Quirin's and Heinck's discarded navy fatigues.

From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple

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