obsolete
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.no longer used because something newer and better exists.
adj.no longer in use or practice; discarded in favour of a more modern or efficient alternative.
Simple“The old floppy disks became obsolete once everyone started using USB drives.”
In context“The rapid development of satellite navigation systems rendered traditional paper road maps virtually obsolete for the average driver.”
UsageUsually placed before the noun or after a linking verb like 'become'.
Antonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
adj.describing a part of a plant or animal that is not fully developed or is disappearing.
adj.referring to an organ or part that is imperfectly developed or has become indistinct through evolution.
Simple“The bird has obsolete wings that it can no longer use for flying.”
In context“In certain cave-dwelling species, the eyes have become obsolete over generations of living in total darkness.”
UsageUsed specifically in biological and anatomical descriptions.
Synonymsvestigialrudimentary - 03 C2 Proficiency
v.to make something old-fashioned or no longer useful.
v.to cause something to become outdated or to replace it with a newer version.
Simple“New software updates often obsolete older hardware models.”
In context“The company's strategy was to obsolete its own products every two years to maintain a dominant position in the tech market.”
UsageThis is a transitive verb and requires a direct object.
“Today, some believe artificial intelligence chatbots will finally make hold music obsolete, replacing it with automatic waiting agents, conversational voice bots and other technologies designed to eliminate queues.”
“If the computing platform cannot be updated, or too many components fail, it may become obsolete long before the surrounding infrastructure reaches the end of its useful life.”
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.