obsolete
/ŏb″sə-lēt′, ŏb′sə-lēt″/
adjective
- No longer in use. an obsolete word.
- Outmoded in design, style, or construction. an obsolete locomotive.
- (Biology) Vestigial or rudimentary, especially in comparison with related or ancestral species, as the tailbone of an ape. Used of an organ or other part of an organism.
How does the adjective 'obsolete' differ from other similar words?
Some common synonyms of obsolete are ancient, antiquated, antique, archaic, old, and venerable. While all these words mean "having come into existence or use in the more or less distant past," obsolete may apply to something regarded as no longer acceptable or useful even though it is still in existence.
// a computer that makes earlier models obsolete
When could 'ancient' be used to replace 'obsolete'?
The synonyms ancient and obsolete are sometimes interchangeable, but ancient applies to occurrence, existence, or use in or survival from the distant past.
// ancient accounts of dragons
When is 'archaic' a more appropriate choice than 'obsolete'?
In some situations, the words archaic and obsolete are roughly equivalent. However, archaic implies having the character or characteristics of a much earlier time.
// the play used archaic language to convey a sense of period