obsolescence
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of obsolescence
First recorded in 1820–30; obsolesc(ent) + -ence
Explanation
Fashion trends come and go, and often return after a time. But gimmicky fads quickly fall into obsolescence, losing appeal and falling out of sight — do you know anyone who still has a pet rock? The word obsolescence is the noun form of the more common obsolete, meaning "something no longer used." Both words stem from the Latin obsolēscere, which means, logically enough, "to fall into disuse." Your phone or your car may be designed for obsolescence, meaning they are meant to stop working or go out of style so you'll buy a newer model. More amusingly, TV personality Art Linkletter once commented, "The four stages of man are infancy, childhood, adolescence, and obsolescence.”
Vocabulary lists containing obsolescence
Power Suffix: -escence
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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.
What the team’s recommendations have in common: scarce physical assets, high barriers to entry, rising replacement costs and limited risk of technical obsolescence.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 7, 2026
I fear there are many years left in this age, and that it will not quickly fade into political obsolescence, becoming a curiosity or historical footnote.
From Salon ● Jun. 23, 2026
Once again, the franchise finds them horrified to face their obsolescence.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2026
Change has become the norm, black swans proliferate like starlings, and the ability to navigate through the flux makes the difference between outsize success and obsolescence.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 8, 2026
My excuse is that in this era of planned obsolescence, when a thing breaks down I can usually find something in my collection to repair it—a toilet, or a motor, or a lawn mower.
From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
