obsolescent

[ ob-suh-les-uhnt ]

adjective

1. becoming obsolete; passing out of use, as a word:

   an obsolescent term.

2. becoming outdated or outmoded, as machinery or weapons.
3. Biology. gradually disappearing or imperfectly developed, as vestigial organs.

obsolescent

/ ˌɒbsəˈlɛsənt /

adjective

1. becoming obsolete or out of date

Derived Forms

• ˌobsoˈlescence, noun
• ˌobsoˈlescently, adverb

Other Words From

• obso·lescent·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of obsolescent¹

First recorded in 1745–55, obsolescent is from the Latin word obsolēscent- (stem of obsolēscēns, present participle of obsolēscere to fall into disuse). See obsolete, -escent

Word History and Origins

Origin of obsolescent¹

C18: from Latin obsolescere; see obsolete

Example Sentences

The once vital, now near-obsolescent, piece of the health-care food chain?

From The Daily Beast

And they are living reminders that one day even Rupert will be obsolescent.

From The Daily Beast

The word goddesse was probably substituted for lisse, because the latter was obsolescent.

From Project Gutenberg

There are traces of an original divine being whose name is becoming obsolescent and a matter of jest.

From Project Gutenberg

It swept many obsolescent and evil things away, but many evil and unjust things remained.

From Project Gutenberg

I am not impelled by the archaic sex madness of the beast, nor by the obsolescent romance madness of later-day man.

From Project Gutenberg

This singular expression, now obsolete or obsolescent, was common in the first half of the nineteenth century.

From Project Gutenberg