defunct

adjective de·funct \ di-ˈfəŋkt , dē- \

|Updated on: 9 Aug 2018

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Examples: defunct in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

Definition of defunct

: no longer living, existing, or functioning

wrote for a magazine that is now defunct

a defunct railroad

See defunct defined for English-language learners

See defunct defined for kids

Examples of defunct in a Sentence

She wrote for the now-defunct newspaper.
a stack of brochures and a few faded placards are all that remain of the defunct organization

Recent Examples of defunct from the Web

Dillard's has continued growing in recent years, including an acquisition in 2001 of 12 department stores from defunct operators Montgomery Ward and ZCMI.

— tom daykin, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Dilliard's department store chain could enter Milwaukee area by buying Boston Store sites," 11 July 2018
The agency interpreted the order to apply only to the four plaintiffs in the case, not the horde of Corinthian students defrauded by the defunct for-profit school.

— danielle douglas-gabriel, latimes.com, "Judge rejects DeVos' interpretation of order about Corinthian student debt relief," 20 June 2018
The agency interpreted the order to only apply to the four plaintiffs in the case, not the scores of Corinthian students defrauded by the defunct for-profit school.

— danielle douglas-gabriel, Washington Post, "Judge rejects DeVos’s interpretation of order to halt partial student debt relief plan," 20 June 2018
From downtown Orlando to Lake Nona, pet supply stores are building or taking the spot of defunct retailers that fell out of fashion or closed with Internet competition.

— kyle arnold, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Orlando pet-supply stores fetch big business," 14 May 2018
All three of the companies Nikulin is accused of hacking are based in California, although Formspring is defunct.

— trevor hughes, USA TODAY, "Accused Russian hacker extradited to U.S. to face charges he attacked Dropbox, LinkedIn," 2 Apr. 2018
The Milwaukee club landed a home three years after its start by renting the former train station from the now-defunct Milwaukee Road.

— tom daykin, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Model railroad club still operates in a historic train station hiding in plain sight in the Harbor District," 13 July 2018
The charges related to Uresti’s involvement in FourWinds Logistics, a now-defunct oil field services company that defrauded investors.

— patrick danner, San Antonio Express-News, "Judge refuses to appoint Uresti’s lawyer of choice for appeal," 12 July 2018
Geoffrey the Giraffe, the iconic mascot for the now-defunct Toys R Us chain, has been adopted and has a new home.

— natalie dreier, ajc, "Toys R Us’ Geoffrey the Giraffe has new home at children’s hospital," 12 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'defunct.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

If you know that de- often means "the opposite of", it's easy to guess the meaning of defunct. Shakespeare seems to have been the first writer to use this adjective, in Henry V. Defunct American political parties include the Greenback Party, the Readjuster Party, and the Nullifier Party. Defunct Academy Awards categories include Best Dance Direction and Best Assistant Director. Defunct U.S. auto models include the Dudly Bug, the LuLu, the Hupmobile, the Gas-au-lec, and the Nu-Klea Starlite. But to speak of a person as defunct would sound disrespectful—which is how it sounds in e. e. cummings's famous poem "Buffalo Bill's defunct".

Origin and Etymology of defunct

Latin defunctus, from past participle of defungi to finish, die, from de- + fungi to perform — more at function

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1599

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

defunct Synonyms

Phrases

bitten the dust;

Synonym Discussion of defunct

dead, defunct, deceased, departed, late mean devoid of life. dead applies literally to what is deprived of vital force but is used figuratively of anything that has lost any attribute (such as energy, activity, radiance) suggesting life.