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obsolete

Pronunciation: /ˈɒbsəliːt/

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Definition of obsolete

adjective

  • 1no longer produced or used; out of date:the disposal of old and obsolete machinery the phrase was obsolete after 1625
  • 2 Biology (of a part or characteristic of an organism) less developed than formerly or in a related species; rudimentary; vestigial.

verb

[with object] chiefly US
  • cause (a product or idea) to become obsolete by replacing it with something new:we’re trying to stimulate the business by obsoleting last year’s designs

Derivatives

obsoletely

adverb

obsoleteness

noun

obsoletism

noun

Origin:

late 16th century: from Latin obsoletus 'grown old, worn out', past participle of obsolescere 'fall into disuse'

Spelling help

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obsolete in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of obsolete in the US English dictionary
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