extinct

[ ik-stingkt ]

adjective

1. no longer in existence; having ended or died out:

   extinct pre-Colombian societies.

2. Biology, Ecology. (of a plant or animal species) having no living member remaining anywhere, not in the wild, in a naturalized population, nor in captivity, as categorized by the IUCN Red List: : EX

   a list of extinct animals that once inhabited the Isle of Man.

   Synonyms: gone, defunct

3. no longer in use; obsolete:

   an extinct custom.

   Synonyms: archaic

4. extinguished; quenched; not burning:

   evidence of a half dozen extinct campfires.

   Synonyms: out

5. Geology. (of a volcano) not having erupted for at least 10,000 years and not expected to erupt again. Compare active ( def 10 ), dormant ( def 6 ).

extinct

/ ɪkˈstɪŋkt /

adjective

1. (of an animal or plant species) having no living representative; having died out
2. quenched or extinguished
3. (of a volcano) no longer liable to erupt; inactive
4. void or obsolete

   an extinct political office

extinct

/ ĭk-stĭngkt′ /

1. Having no living members. Species become extinct for many reasons, including climate change, disease, destruction of habitat, local or worldwide natural disasters, and development into new species (speciation). The great majority of species that have ever lived—probably more than 99 percent—are now extinct.
2. No longer active or burning, as an extinct volcano.

Other Words From

• non·ex·tinct adjective
• un·ex·tinct adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of extinct¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin ex(s)tinctus, past participle of ex(s)tinguere; extinguish ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of extinct¹

C15: from Latin exstinctus quenched, from exstinguere to extinguish

Synonym Study

See dead.

Example Sentences

The pterosaurs are extinct flying reptiles that lived alongside their close relatives, the dinosaurs.

From Science Daily

Now, for the first time one of these extinct predators has been spotted in the flesh.

From Science Magazine

It is estimated the species, found in forested areas of Kenya, could be extinct in the wild within two decades after years of poaching.

From BBC

This species of parrot was believed to be extinct until some were recognised in the Bolivian savannah in 1992.

From BBC

If that rate continues unabated, one-third of all freshwater species alive today will be extinct by 2120.

From Salon