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obsolescent

[ ob-suh-les-uh nt ]
/ ˌɒb səˈlɛs ənt /
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adjective

becoming obsolete; passing out of use, as a word: an obsolescent term.
becoming outdated or outmoded, as machinery or weapons.
Biology. gradually disappearing or imperfectly developed, as vestigial organs.

RELATED WORDS

out-of-date, senescent

Nearby words

obsidian dating, obsidional coin, obsolesc., obsolesce, obsolescence, obsolescent, obsolete, obstacle, obstacle course, obstacle race, obstet.

Origin of obsolescent

First recorded in 1745–55, obsolescent is from the Latin word obsolēscent- (stem of obsolēscēns, present participle of obsolēscere to fall into disuse). See obsolete, -escent
Related formsob·so·les·cent·ly, adverb
Can be confusedarchaic obsolescent obsoleteobsolescent obsolete
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

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British Dictionary definitions for obsolescent

obsolescent

/ (ˌɒbsəˈlɛsənt) /

adjective

becoming obsolete or out of date
Derived Formsobsolescence, nounobsolescently, adverb

Word Origin for obsolescent

C18: from Latin obsolescere; see obsolete
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for obsolescent

obsolescent

adj.

1755, from Latin obsolescentum (nominative obsolescens), present participle of obsolescere "fall into disuse" (see obsolete).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper