obsolescence

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noun ob·so·les·cence \ ˌäb-sə-ˈle-sᵊn(t)s \

Definition of obsolescence

:the process of becoming obsolete or the condition of being nearly obsolete

the gradual obsolescence of machinery

reduced to obsolescence

the planned obsolescence of automobiles

See obsolescence defined for English-language learners

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Examples of obsolescence in a Sentence

the obsolescence of the old technology
Once a useful tool, slide rules have fallen into obsolescence.

Recent Examples of obsolescence from the Web

The building is in such a state of obsolescence that remodeling would be impracticable, the owners said.

— jeff suess, Cincinnati.com, "Our history: Odd Fellows Temple was lost Hannaford design," 30 Aug. 2017
LESSON 1: CHANGE IS DIFFICULT, BUT OBSOLESCENCE IS WORSE In tennis, as with investment funds, past performance is no guarantee of future results.

— jon wertheim, SI.com, "Roger Federer LLC: How the G.O.A.T. Got to the Top of His Game, in Businesslike Fashion," 25 Aug. 2017
Hess believes people can dodge obsolescence by honing four essential skills that even the cleverest machines can’t match.

— anne fisher, Fortune, "4 Skills You Need to Survive in the Smart Machine Age," 24 Aug. 2017
Rapid changes and innovation also continue to challenge them with a risk of obsolescence.

— roger showley, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Big tech too big for the public's good?," 4 Aug. 2017
Although the House of Representatives used the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to vote those rules into obsolescence, the Senate refused to follow suit, making the Interior Department methane rules the only rules that withstood a slew of CRA motions.

— megan geuss, Ars Technica, "EPA must enforce methane emissions rules immediately after court decision," 5 July 2017
For one, their refillable design is the antithesis to the plastic ballpoint’s planned obsolescence.

— chris wright, WIRED, "Ink Different With These 7 Sensibly Priced Fountain Pens," 3 July 2017
Its near-obsolescence as a tactile medium adds a further historical and emotional charge.

— leah ollman, latimes.com, "Her quilts are made of 16-mm film. Here's what they reveal, frame by frame," 30 June 2017
The bickering threatens to divide the currency into two competing versions of Bitcoin—or condemn it to obsolescence.

— brian patrick eha, Fortune, "Can Bitcoin’s First Felon Help Make Cryptocurrency a Trillion-Dollar Market?," 26 June 2017

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

First Known Use of obsolescence

circa 1832

OBSOLESCENCE Defined for English Language Learners

obsolescence

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noun

Definition of obsolescence for English Language Learners

: the condition of no longer being used or useful : the condition of being obsolete

Law Dictionary

obsolescence

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noun ob·so·les·cence \ ˌäb-sə-ˈles-ᵊns \

legal Definition of obsolescence

:a loss in the utility or value of property that results over time from intrinsic limitations (as outmoded facilities) or external circumstances

Note: Obsolescence is usually distinguished from depreciation and physical deterioration.

— economic obsolescence

:obsolescence that results from external factors (as location) that render a property obsolete, no longer competitive, unattractive to purchasers or investors, or of decreasing usefulness

claimed that the appraisal failed to account for economic obsolescence resulting from an adjacent waste facility

— functional obsolescence \ˈfəŋk-shə-nəl-\

:obsolescence deriving from a lack of adequate or appropriate equipment, space, or design

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obsolescence

Definition of obsolescence

Examples of obsolescence in a Sentence

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First Known Use of obsolescence

OBSOLESCENCE Defined for English Language Learners

obsolescence

Definition of obsolescence for English Language Learners

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obsolescence

legal Definition of obsolescence

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