extinct

[ik-stingkt]

adjective

1. no longer in existence; having ended or died out.

   extinct pre-Colombian societies.

2. Biology, Ecology.,  (of a plant or animal species) having no living member remaining anywhere, not in the wild, in a naturalized population, nor in captivity, as categorized by the IUCN Red List: EX

   a list of extinct animals that once inhabited the Isle of Man.

   Synonyms: gone, defunct

3. no longer in use; obsolete.

   an extinct custom.

   Synonyms: archaic

4. extinguished; quenched; not burning.

   evidence of a half dozen extinct campfires.

   Synonyms: out

5. Geology.,  (of a volcano) not having erupted for at least 10,000 years and not expected to erupt again.

extinct

/ ɪkˈstɪŋkt /

adjective

1. (of an animal or plant species) having no living representative; having died out

2. quenched or extinguished

3. (of a volcano) no longer liable to erupt; inactive

4. void or obsolete

   an extinct political office

extinct

1. Having no living members. Species become extinct for many reasons, including climate change, disease, destruction of habitat, local or worldwide natural disasters, and development into new species (speciation). The great majority of species that have ever lived—probably more than 99 percent—are now extinct.

2. No longer active or burning, as an extinct volcano.

Other Word Forms

• nonextinct adjective
• unextinct adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of extinct¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin ex(s)tinctus, past participle of ex(s)tinguere; extinguish ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of extinct¹

C15: from Latin exstinctus quenched, from exstinguere to _extinguish

Synonym Study

See dead.

Example Sentences

The modern human version of NOVA1 differs from the variant seen in Neanderthals and other extinct hominids, although the reason for this evolutionary change was previously unclear.

Read more on Science Daily

Understanding how prehistoric genes functioned and were activated is crucial for learning more about extinct species.

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They once came from mekosuchine crocodiles, an extinct group that dominated waterways about 55 million years ago.

Read more on Science Daily

But access to the city's Radical Road path - set high along cliffs at Arthur's Seat, the extinct volcano that is one of Edinburgh's best-known landmarks - has been blocked since 2018.

Read more on BBC

Nearly four decades ago, the birds were extinct in England and Scotland with just a few pairs left in Wales.

Read more on BBC