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 No longer active or burning, as an extinct volcano.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

A species of insect thought to have been extinct in Britain since 2016 has been found in north Wales.

From BBC

Stephen Kirtley, from charity Butterfly Conservation, said the species had become extinct in the North East in the 19th Century, but its numbers were growing again, especially in County Durham and Teesside.

From BBC

Some estimate only 50,000 remain in the wild, and there are now fears the animals will be extinct in some states within a generation.

From BBC

"We don't see that in any other animal, living or extinct," she said.

From BBC

Bringing back sunflower sea stars, which are functionally extinct in California, could help restore kelp forests off the coast, researchers say.

From Los Angeles Times