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View synonyms for obsolete

obsolete

[ ob-suh-leet, ob-suh-leet ]

adjective

  1. no longer in general use; fallen into disuse:

    an obsolete expression.

    Antonyms: modern, new

  2. of a discarded or outmoded type; out of date:

    an obsolete battleship.

    Synonyms: old, ancient, antiquated

    Antonyms: modern, new

  3. (of a linguistic form) no longer in use, especially, out of use for at least the past century. Compare archaic.
  4. effaced by wearing down or away.
  5. Biology. imperfectly developed or rudimentary in comparison with the corresponding character in other individuals, as of a different sex or of a related species.


verb (used with object)

, ob·so·let·ed, ob·so·let·ing.
  1. to make obsolete by replacing with something newer or better; antiquate:

    Automation has obsoleted many factory workers.

obsolete

/ ˌɒbsəˈliːt; ˈɒbsəˌliːt /

adjective

  1. out of use or practice; not current
  2. out of date; unfashionable or outmoded
  3. biology (of parts, organs, etc) vestigial; rudimentary
“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


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Usage Note

Terms and definitions labeled Obsolete in this dictionary have not been in widespread use since the mid 1700s. Unlike some relatively familiar archaic words and phrases, like prithee and thou art, obsolete words and phrases are not easily understood by a modern reader, and obsolete senses of current terms, as found in definitions 13, 14, and 15 of nice, are even more difficult for a contemporary reader to recognize.
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Usage

The word obsoleteness is hardly ever used, obsolescence standing as the noun form for both obsolete and obsolescent
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Derived Forms

  • ˈobsoˌleteness, noun
  • ˈobsoˌletely, adverb
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Other Words From

  • obso·letely adverb
  • obso·leteness noun
  • nonob·so·lete adjective
  • sub·obso·lete adjective
  • sub·obso·letely adverb
  • sub·obso·leteness noun
  • unob·so·lete adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of obsolete1

First recorded in 1570–80; from Latin obsolētus, past participle of obsolēscere “to fall into disuse,” perhaps equivalent to ob- ob- + sol(ēre) “to be accustomed to” + -ēscere -esce
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Word History and Origins

Origin of obsolete1

C16: from Latin obsolētus worn out, past participle of obsolēre (unattested), from ob- opposite to + solēre to be used
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Example Sentences

At the same time California increased the requirements on how effective the city’s stormwater system needs to be, the city’s system became obsolete, its population grew and the impacts of climate change grew more severe.

The emergence of the variants raised the specter that the current generation of vaccines might be rendered obsolete before they have even been fully rolled out.

When the project first came up, commissioners asked questions about the data and how it would be stored but were generally positive in their comments — one even suggested that the new technology might someday make traffic engineers obsolete.

Fabiola Alvarez Yurcisin, who works with found and often obsolete materials, constructed a cage inside which such terms as “asylum,” “fear” and “wall” are reflected in a mirror.

The US federal minimum wage is becoming increasingly obsolete.

From Quartz

But their weapons are becomingly increasingly obsolete—and that has some in the U.S. Air Force spooked.

That data (collected in 2012 and 2013) is obsolete: Jesse Logan confirms both areas are “now showing significant mortality.”

The “Computer Rock” tunes, with references to BASIC programming, were almost immediately rendered obsolete.

And fashion editor Lynn Yaeger thinks print magazines are becoming "obsolete."

Yet the fact that innovation is a wonderful, exciting thing is cold comfort to the man who feels he has become obsolete.

Life has few direr disenchanters than the morning smells of obsolete tobacco, relics though they be of hesternal beatitude.

Even in the same scene, time will alter every form, and render the exquisite polish of last year, obsolete rudeness next year.

Faith founded on ancient authority is active still, but promises to become obsolete.

He also revives obsolete words, without any apparent reason.

It is believed that after four years experience of administration in Mesopotamia they would now vote this theory obsolete.

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obsolescentobstacle