单词 | defunct |
释义 | defunct (once / 3906 pages) adj Defunct describes something that used to exist, but is now gone. A magazine that no longer publishes, like Sassy, the girl-power mag from the '90s, is defunct, for example. Although defunct comes from the Latin word defunctus meaning "dead," it's not usually used to describe a person who's no longer with us, but rather institutions, projects, companies and political parties — you know, the boring stuff. Keep digging and you'll find that defunctus comes from defungi, meaning, "to finish," which is closer to how it's used today. Defunct can also refer to a rule or law that's no longer used or has become inactive, like prohibition. WORD FAMILYdefunct: defunctness USAGE EXAMPLESThe center will replace some functions of the defunct U.S. Washington Times(Dec 28, 2016) But by late morning Wednesday, those terms already seemed defunct. Washington Post(Dec 14, 2016) A statement from the Burmese President’s office linked them to the Rohingya Solidarity Organization, a militant group long thought to be defunct. Time(Dec 12, 2016) 1adj no longer in force or use; inactive a defunct law a defunct organization Syn inoperative not working or taking effect 2adj having ceased to exist or live the will of a defunct aunt a defunct Indian tribe Syn dead no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life |
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