# obsolete

/ˈɑbsəˌɫit/ (US) · /ˈɒbsəlˌiːt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/obsolete
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. no longer used

adjective · CEFR B2

no longer used because something newer and better exists.

For teachers: no longer in use or practice; discarded in favour of a more modern or efficient alternative.

- The old floppy disks became obsolete once everyone started using USB drives.
- The rapid development of satellite navigation systems rendered traditional paper road maps virtually obsolete for the average driver.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun or after a linking verb like 'become'.

### 2. biology

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

describing a part of a plant or animal that is not fully developed or is disappearing.

For teachers: referring to an organ or part that is imperfectly developed or has become indistinct through evolution.

- The bird has obsolete wings that it can no longer use for flying.
- In certain cave-dwelling species, the eyes have become obsolete over generations of living in total darkness.

Usage: Used specifically in biological and anatomical descriptions.

### 3. to make outdated

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

to make something old-fashioned or no longer useful.

For teachers: to cause something to become outdated or to replace it with a newer version.

- New software updates often obsolete older hardware models.
- The company's strategy was to obsolete its own products every two years to maintain a dominant position in the tech market.

Usage: This is a transitive verb and requires a direct object.

## Examples

- Smartphones make many older gadgets completely obsolete.
- The factory had to replace its manufacturing equipment because the old machines were obsolete and spare parts were impossible to find.
- Rapid advancements in artificial intelligence threaten to render entire categories of software obsolete, forcing developers to continuously adapt their skill sets to remain relevant.

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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.