Definition of: obsolete

(ob′sə·lēt) adjective
1. Gone out of use, as a word or phrase, a style, fashion, etc.; of a discarded type or fashion.
2. Biol. Imperfectly developed; atrophied; suppressed or lacking: said of markings, parts, organs, etc. [<L obsoletus grown old, worn out, pp. of obsolescere. See OBSOLESCENT.]
—ob′so·lete′ly adverb
—ob′so·lete′ness noun
—ob′so·let′ism noun Synonyms: ancient, antiquated archaic, disused, obsolescent, old, out–of–date, rare. Some of the most ancient words are not obsolete. A word is obsolete which has quite gone out of use; a word is archaic or obsolescent which is falling out of use; archaic is also applied to a word which is obsolete in general usage but which survives in special texts, as the Bible, hymnals, poetry, etc.; a word is rare if there are few present instances of its use. See OLD. Antonyms: see synonyms for FRESH, MODERN, NEW.