superannuated

American  

[soo-per-an-yoo-ey-tid] / ˌsu pərˈæn yuˌeɪ tɪd /

adjective

1. retired because of age or infirmity.

2. too old for use, work, service, or a position.

3. antiquated or obsolete.

   superannuated ideas.

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superannuated British  

/ ˌsuːpərˈænjʊˌeɪtɪd /

adjective

1. discharged, esp with a pension, owing to age or illness

2. too old to serve usefully

3. obsolete

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Etymology

Origin of superannuated

1625–35; alteration (with -u- of annual ) of Medieval Latin superannātus over a year old (said of cattle), equivalent to super ann ( um ) beyond a year + -ātus -ate ¹; see -ed ²

Explanation

If a friend describes your dot matrix printer as superannuated, then you should probably plan a shopping trip for electronics. Your friend has just pointed out that your printer is obsolete. The word superannuated, pronounced "su-per-AN-you-ay-ted," comes from the Medieval Latin word superannuatus, which means “to be too old.” You can use this word to describe things that are obsolete because of age, like a superannuated car you can't fix because replacement parts are no longer made. You also might be tempted to call the word superannuated, well, superannuated, because you don’t hear it used very much anymore.

Example Sentences

The Black Prince by Iris Murdoch Superannuated author Bradley Pearson looks back on his affair with the daughter of a friend and rival author.

From The Guardian • Mar. 20, 2010

Superannuated as a fad, running is beginning to express itself more and more in the tongues of a subculture.

From Time Magazine Archive

It's a moral certainty that if he hadn't met you he would have left all his money to a Home for Superannuated Caddies or a Fund for Supplying the Deserving Poor with Niblicks.

From Uneasy Money by Wodehouse, P. G. (Pelham Grenville)

Mrs. Griffin said of course the company must squeeze in, but they understood all that, and were glad enough to get in by any means, to which Superannuated readily assented.

From In the Yule-Log Glow, Book I Christmas Tales from 'Round the World by Morris, Harrison S. (Harrison Smith)

Superannuated is applied to a person who on account of old age has been declared incapable of continuing his activities.

From The Century Vocabulary Builder by Bachelor, Joseph M. (Joseph Morris)