defunct
adjective
Did you know?
If you know that de- often means "the opposite of", it's easy to guess the meaning of defunct. Shakespeare seems to have been the first writer to use this adjective, in Henry V. Defunct American political parties include the Greenback Party, the Readjuster Party, and the Nullifier Party. Defunct Academy Awards categories include Best Dance Direction and Best Assistant Director. Defunct U.S. auto models include the Dudly Bug, the LuLu, the Hupmobile, the Gas-au-lec, and the Nu-Klea Starlite. But to speak of a person as defunct would sound disrespectful—which is how it sounds in e. e. cummings's famous poem "Buffalo Bill's defunct".
Synonyms
- bygone
- bypast
- dead
- departed
- done
- expired
- extinct
- gone
- nonextant
- vanished
Example Sentences
Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 13 Sep. 2022 On one poster, a blocky, blue figure that appears as improvised as a jazz solo invites viewers to performances by Miles Davis at the now-defunct Bohemian Caverns. Kelsey Ables, Washington Post, 13 Sep. 2022 Nelly, the latter of whom scored several improbable country hits in recent years with the now-defunct duo Florida Georgia Line. Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 12 Sep. 2022 The golden-colored slip dress was from her now-defunct clothing line, Daya by Zendaya. Catherine Santino, Peoplemag, 12 Sep. 2022 In 1933, the Packers played their first home game in Milwaukee at Borchert Field, the now-defunct wooden structure that served as the centerpiece of Milwaukee baseball for decades. Jr Radcliffe, Journal Sentinel, 9 Sep. 2022 Earlier this year, the federal government canceled all loan debt owed by students who attended either of the now-defunct for-profit institutions. Arika Herron, The Indianapolis Star, 8 Sep. 2022 The $5 million in payments made in 2007 and 2009 were charitable donations to the now-defunct Donald J. Trump Foundation, the Wall Street Journal reported. Todd Spangler, Variety, 2 Sep. 2022 West Virginia bailed on the now-defunct Big East the following year for the Big 12. Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 1 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Latin defunctus, from past participle of defungi to finish, die, from de- + fungi to perform — more at function
1599, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
defunct
adjective
defunct
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- extinct
- vanished
- expired
- gone
- obsolete
- done
- bygone
- departed
- faded
- dead
- fallen
- moribund
- antiquated
- nonexistent
- collapsed
- dying
- bypast
- nonextant
- lost
- lapsed
- terminated
- dated
- overthrown
- missing
- finished
- passé
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- existing
- extant
- alive
- active
- existent
- living
- dynamic
- thriving
- vibrant
Synonyms & Similar Words
- fallen
- dead
- deceased
- extinct
- gone
- late
- demised
- lifeless
- departed
- low
- asleep
- dying
- moribund
- cold
- breathless
- fading
- bitten the dust
- lapsed
- terminated
- stillborn
- finished
- inanimate
- insensate
- nonliving
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- live
- alive
- breathing
- living
- quick
- going
- dynamic
- active
- functioning
- vital
- vibrant
- operative
- thriving
- animate
- lively
- animated
- running
- vivacious
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of defunct are dead, deceased, departed, and late. While all these words mean "devoid of life," defunct stresses cessation of active existence or operation.
The meanings of dead and defunct largely overlap; however, dead applies literally to what is deprived of vital force but is used figuratively of anything that has lost any attribute (such as energy, activity, radiance) suggesting life.
Deceased, departed, and late apply to persons who have died recently. Deceased is the preferred term in legal use.
The words departed and defunct are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, departed is used usually as a euphemism.
While in some cases nearly identical to defunct, late is used especially with reference to a person in a specific relation or status.