# disuse

/dɪsˈjus/ (US) · /dɪsjˈuːs/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/disuse
Updated: 2026-10-19

## Definition

when you stop using something for a long time, so it becomes old, weak, or forgotten.

For teachers: lack of use over an extended period, typically resulting in decay, obsolescence, or loss of function.

## Examples

- The old playground falls into disuse every winter.
- After the new bridge opens, the old ferry route falls into disuse and local shops lose customers.
- The manor's library, once the heart of the house, sank into disuse as later generations preferred digital archives to dusty shelves.

## Usage notes

- Typically appears in the phrases 'fall into disuse' and 'in disuse'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.