English Explanatory Dictionary

obsolete

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. No longer in use or no longer useful; now disused or neglected (often in favour of something newer, better, or more fashionable); outmoded.
  2. Imperfectly developed; not very distinct.
verb
  1. To cause to become obsolete.
noun
  1. An obsolete thing or person.

Pronunciation

/ˈɒbsəliːt/ äbsəˈlēt /ɑbsəˈliːt/ /ˈɑbsəliːt/ en-us-obsolete.ogg

Word forms

obsolete more obsolete most obsolete absolete obsoletes obsoleting obsoleted

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin obsolētus (“worn out, gone out of use”), past participle of obsolēscere (“to wear out, fall into disuse, grow old, decay”); see obsolesce.

Synonyms

anachronistic antediluvial antediluvian antiquated antique archaic backward backwards behind the times cobwebbed cobwebby dated defunct desuete discontinued disused dootsie elderly extinct expired fossilized Havishamesque hoary idle Miss Havishamesque mouldy obsolete old oldfangled old-fashioned old school outdated outmoded out of date out of fashion outworn parachronistic passé primitive superannuated superseded unemployed unoccupied venerable workless deprecated abortive obscure rudimental antiquate

Antonyms

active current employed fashionable future proof in use nascent new newfangled novel recent up-to-date

Related words

obsolescence obsolesce obsolescent obsoletion

Derived words

nonobsolete obsoletely obsoleteness obsoleter obsoletism obsoletor semiobsolete subobsolete unobsolete
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