Something that is obsolete is no longer needed because something better has been invented.
So much equipment becomes obsolete almost as soon as it's made.
Synonyms: outdated, old, passé, ancient More Synonyms of obsolete
obsolete in British English
(ˈɒbsəˌliːt, ˌɒbsəˈliːt)
adjective
1.
out of use or practice; not current
2.
out of date; unfashionable or outmoded
3. biology
(of parts, organs, etc) vestigial; rudimentary
▶ USAGE The word obsoleteness is hardly ever used, obsolescence standing as the noun form for both obsolete and obsolescent
Derived forms
obsoletely (ˈobsoˌletely)
adverb
obsoleteness (ˈobsoˌleteness)
noun
Word origin
C16: from Latin obsolētus worn out, past participle of obsolēre (unattested), from ob- opposite to + solēre to be used
obsolete in American English
(ˌɑbsəˈlit; ˈɑbsəˌlit)
adjective
1.
no longer in use or practice; discarded
2.
no longer in fashion; out-of-date; passé
3. Biology
rudimentary or poorly developed as compared with its counterpart in other individuals of a related species, the opposite sex, etc.; vestigial
said of an organ, etc.
verb transitiveWord forms: ˌobsoˌleted or ˌobsoˌleting
4.
to make obsolete, as by replacing with something newer
SIMILAR WORDS: old
Derived forms
obsoletely (ˈobsoˌletely)
adverb
obsoleteness (ˈobsoˌleteness)
noun
Word origin
L obsoletus, pp. of obsolescere, to go out of use < ob- (see ob-) + *-solescere (< exolescere, to grow out of use < ex-, ex-1 + ? alescere, to increase: see adolescent)
Examples of 'obsolete' in a sentence
obsolete
Products and whole businesses can become obsolete as tomorrow leaves them behind.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Both those restrictions have gone, made obsolete by digital technology.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Another myth is that Openreach is investing in obsolete technology.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
And twenty per cent of the 2,000 adults quizzed think they are about to become obsolete.
The Sun (2016)
I thought it would become obsolete pretty quickly.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Investment plans for the rest of this decade are based on technology already considered obsolete by the world's most competitive economies.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It will only be obsolete when the threats have become obsolete,' he said.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The original concept of limited war had been rendered obsolete by changing political circumstances.
Mcinnes, Colin & Sheffield G.D (eds.) Warfare in the Twentieth Century (1988)
There is vast scope to cut out obsolete practices.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Hospitals left with obsolete equipment have had to upgrade on their own.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
We need more home technology and it seems to become obsolete more quickly.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
All three of these diagnoses were once subsumed under the now obsolete name hysteria.
Herman, Judith Lewis Trauma and Recovery (1992)
Fast growth always makes obsolete the existing controls.
Peter F. Drucker THE ESSENTIAL DRUCKER (2001)
Computers may become less quickly obsolete too.
The Times Literary Supplement (2011)
Much of that force is founded on ageing equipment backed by vast stores of almost obsolete replacement parts.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Industry pundits claim the existence of such offers renders pay-as-you-go deals obsolete.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Fact is, that old picture became obsolete almost the moment it was taken.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He criticised Labour claims that drones could render nuclear submarines obsolete.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It soon makes obsolete capital structure or existing arrangements for obtaining short-term loans and working capital.
Peter F. Drucker MANAGEMENT: task, responsibilities, practices (1974)
It's an examination of a world that the march of civilisation should have rendered obsolete years ago.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Proper obsolete old banger now.
The Sun (2014)
A paean to obsolete office equipment?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
TVs on the high street, it can still work out cheaper to rent - with the added benefit that you are not left with obsolete technology.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In other languages
obsolete
British English: obsolete /ˈɒbsəˌliːt; ˌɒbsəˈliːt/ ADJECTIVE
Something that is obsolete is no longer needed because a better thing now exists.
The equipment became obsolete almost as soon as it was made.
American English: obsolete
Arabic: مَهْجُورٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: obsoleto
Chinese: 荒废的
Croatian: zastario
Czech: zastaralý
Danish: forældet
Dutch: verouderd
European Spanish: obsoleto
Finnish: vanhentunut
French: obsolète
German: veraltet
Greek: απαρχαιωμένος
Italian: obsoleto
Japanese: すたれた
Korean: 쓸모 없어진
Norwegian: umoderne
Polish: przestarzały
European Portuguese: obsoleto
Romanian: perimat
Russian: устаревший
Latin American Spanish: obsoleto
Swedish: föråldrad
Thai: ที่ล้าสมัย
Turkish: modası geçmiş
Ukrainian: застарілий
Vietnamese: lỗi thời
Chinese translation of 'obsolete'
obsolete
(ˈɔbsəliːt)
adj
不再用的 (bùzài yòng de)
(adjective)
Definition
no longer used
The company says the plant is obsolete and does not merit further investment.
Synonyms
outdated
outdated and inefficient factory equipment
old
They got rid of all their old, outdated office equipment.
passé
That sort of music is passé now.
ancient
He produced articles and stories on his ancient typewriter.
antique
Their aim is to break taboos and change antique laws.
old-fashioned
She always wears such boring, old-fashioned clothes.
dated
They wore dated clothes.
discarded
extinct
past it (informal)
out of date
processes using out-of-date technology and very old equipment
archaic
These archaic practices are advocated by people of limited outlook.
disused
out of fashion
Marriage seems to be out of fashion.
out
Romance is making a comeback. Cynicism is out.
antiquated
The factory is so antiquated, it isn't worth saving.
anachronistic
outmoded
People in positions of power continue to promote outmoded ideas.
musty
old hat
behind the times
superannuated
the superannuated idealism of the sixties
antediluvian
those antediluvian days before television
outworn
stubbornly clinging to outworn traditions
démodé (French)
out of the ark (informal)
vieux jeu (French)
Opposites
new
,
the new
,
current
,
modern
,
contemporary
,
fashionable
,
trendy (British, informal)
,
up-to-date
,
present day
,
in vogue
,
in
,
du jour (French)
,
à la mode
,
culty
Additional synonyms
in the sense of ancient
He produced articles and stories on his ancient typewriter.
Synonyms
old-fashioned,
past,
dated,
outdated,
obsolete,
out of date,
old-time,
archaic,
unfashionable,
antiquated,
outmoded,
passé,
musty,
old hat,
behind the times,
fusty,
superannuated,
out of style,
obsolescent,
square (informal),
cobwebby,
démodé,
out of the ark (informal),
oldfangled,
(old-)fogeyish
in the sense of antediluvian
Definition
old-fashioned
those antediluvian days before television
Synonyms
old-fashioned,
ancient,
antique,
obsolete,
out-of-date,
archaic,
antiquated,
passé,
out of the ark (informal),
old as the hills
in the sense of antiquated
Definition
obsolete or old-fashioned
The factory is so antiquated, it isn't worth saving.
Synonyms
obsolete,
old,
aged,
ancient,
antique,
old-fashioned,
elderly,
dated,
past it (informal),
out-of-date,
archaic,
outmoded,
passé,
old hat,
hoary,
superannuated,
antediluvian,
outworn,
cobwebby,
old as the hills
Nearby words of
obsolete
obsessive
obsessively
obsolescent
obsolete
obstacle
obstinacy
obstinate
Synonyms of 'obsolete'
obsolete
Explore 'obsolete' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of antique
Definition
old-fashioned
Their aim is to break taboos and change antique laws.
Synonyms
old-fashioned,
old,
aged,
ancient,
remote,
elderly,
primitive,
outdated,
obsolete,
archaic,
bygone,
primordial,
primeval,
immemorial,
superannuated
in the sense of archaic
Definition
out of date or old-fashioned
These archaic practices are advocated by people of limited outlook.
Synonyms
old-fashioned,
obsolete,
out of date,
antiquated,
outmoded,
passé,
old hat,
behind the times,
superannuated
in the sense of behind the times
Synonyms
out of date,
old-fashioned,
outdated,
square (informal),
dated,
obsolete,
out of fashion,
antiquated,
outmoded,
passé,
old hat,
out of style
in the sense of dated
Definition
unfashionable
They wore dated clothes.
Synonyms
old-fashioned,
outdated,
out of date,
obsolete,
archaic,
unfashionable,
antiquated,
outmoded,
passé,
out,
old hat,
unhip (slang),
untrendy (British, informal),
démodé,
out of the ark (informal)
in the sense of old
Definition
out of date
They got rid of all their old, outdated office equipment.
Synonyms
out of date,
old-fashioned,
dated,
passé,
antique,
outdated,
obsolete,
archaic,
unfashionable,
antiquated,
outmoded,
behind the times,
superannuated,
out of style,
antediluvian,
unhip (slang),
out of the ark (informal),
démodé
in the sense of old-fashioned
Definition
in the style of a previous period
She always wears such boring, old-fashioned clothes.
Synonyms
out of date,
ancient,
dated,
outdated,
unfashionable,
antiquated,
outmoded,
passé,
old hat,
behind the times,
fusty,
out of style,
unhip (slang),
démodé,
out of the ark (informal),
not with it (informal),
(old-)fogeyish
in the sense of out
Definition
not in fashion or current usage
Romance is making a comeback. Cynicism is out.
Synonyms
out of date,
dead,
square (informal),
old-fashioned,
dated,
outdated,
unfashionable,
antiquated,
outmoded,
passé,
old hat,
behind the times,
out of style,
unhip (slang),
démodé,
not with it (informal)
in the sense of out of date
processes using out-of-date technology and very old equipment
Synonyms
old-fashioned,
ancient,
dated,
discarded,
extinct,
outdated,
stale,
obsolete,
démodé,
archaic,
unfashionable,
superseded,
antiquated,
outmoded,
passé,
old hat,
behind the times,
superannuated,
out of style,
outworn,
obsolescent,
out of the ark (informal),
oldfangled
in the sense of out of fashion
Marriage seems to be out of fashion.
Synonyms
unfashionable,
out,
old-fashioned,
dated,
unpopular,
obsolete,
out of date,
out of fashion,
outmoded,
passé,
old hat,
behind the times,
unhip (slang),
out of the ark (informal),
square (informal)
in the sense of outmoded
Definition
no longer fashionable or accepted
People in positions of power continue to promote outmoded ideas.
Synonyms
old-fashioned,
passé,
dated,
out,
dead,
square (informal),
ancient,
antique,
outdated,
obsolete,
out-of-date,
old-time,
archaic,
unfashionable,
superseded,
bygone,
antiquated,
anachronistic,
olden (archaic),
behind the times,
superannuated,
fossilized,
out of style,
antediluvian,
outworn,
obsolescent,
unhip (slang),
démodé,
out of the ark (informal),
not with it (informal),
oldfangled
Additional synonyms
in the sense of outworn
Definition
(of a belief or custom) old-fashioned and no longer of any use or relevance