Obsolete
adjective /ˌɒbsəˈliːt/ — No longer in use — replaced, superseded, and left by the side of the path of progress.
Definition
No longer produced or used; out of date; (of a word or expression) no longer in common use; (of a plant or animal) vestigial.
Beyond the definition
Obsolete is the fate of everything useful enough to be replaced — technologies, words, ways of working. The word has its own sadness: the obsolete thing was once essential. It carried everything, and now it is set aside.
Origin & history
From Latin obsoletus — worn out, past use (from obsolescere: to fall into disuse, from ob: against + solere: to be accustomed). What custom has passed by — practice has moved on and left it behind.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The skill had become obsolete so gradually that she hadn't noticed until there was no use for it.
The word was obsolete in everyday speech but perfect for this sentence — which was why she kept it.
Obsolete things often return: what was discarded as outdated is rediscovered as rare.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Obsolete” when the meaning fits your context: No longer produced or used; out of date; (of a word or expression) no longer in common use; (of a plant or animal) vestigial.
Synonyms
outdated, archaic, superseded, antiquated, disused
Antonyms
current, modern, up-to-date, contemporary
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Examining Unfamiliar Ancient Objects
An archaeologist uses a magnifying glass to inspect an old tablet with repeated, non-standard geometric shapes on a desk lit by candlelight.
The tablet and spiral seal represent objects that are obsolete, as their original function and specific cultural meaning are no longer in common use, relegated now to the study of the past rather than active utility in the modern world.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Obsolete" mean?
Obsolete is adjective meaning: No longer in use — replaced, superseded, and left by the side of the path of progress.. No longer produced or used; out of date; (of a word or expression) no longer in common use; (of a plant or animal) vestigial.
Where does the word "Obsolete" come from?
From Latin obsoletus — worn out, past use (from obsolescere: to fall into disuse, from ob: against + solere: to be accustomed). What custom has passed by — practice has moved on and left it behind.