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Superannuated was first put to use in English in the 1600s, having been borrowed from Medieval Latin superannuatus, the past participle of "superannuari" ("to be too old")—from Latin super- ("over" or "above") and "annus" ("year"). Shortly thereafter, we made our own verb, "superannuate," from the adjective. Superannuate meant "to retire and pension because of age or infirmity as well as "to declare obsolete," meanings that are still in active service. "Superannuated" can mean "outmoded or old-fashioned," as in "superannuated slang" or "superannuated neckties," or it can simply mean "older than usual."

Examples of superannuated in a Sentence

a periodical that insists on using largely superannuated terms like “editress” and “aviatrix”

Recent Examples on the Web The reformers who rallied around Mohammad Khatami (president from 1997 through 2005) and believed the theocracy could be softened, even superannuated, through the ballot box have been banned from the corridors of power. — Reuel Marc Gerecht And Ray Takeyh, WSJ, 19 Oct. 2021 Breasts come in for their share of drollery as well in a play that sets up two superannuated choruses, one droopily male, the other saggingly female. — Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2021 And who knew about the existence, at least in this droll fiction, of an animal shelter for retired police dogs where the superannuated sniffers’ specific talents are listed for potential owners? — Joe Morgenstern, WSJ, 22 July 2021 Our health care, housing, recreation and retirement institutions are not set up to manage the needs of the superannuated. — New York Times, 1 July 2021 Spores have often been suggested as a vehicle for superannuated bacteria. — Jennifer Frazer, Scientific American, 4 Mar. 2021 The remaking of the High Line turned a chunk of superannuated freight infrastructure into a verdant catwalk. — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 20 Jan. 2021 Predominantly white, male and English, the cabbies present a superannuated vision of Britain, next to the ethnically diverse immigrants and other strivers who get behind the wheel and slap an Uber decal on their window. — Mark Landler, New York Times, 3 Dec. 2020 Not just the question of superannuated friendships, but also past-prime careers, aging bodies, senior finances and calcifying personality traits are all fairly coldly examined here. — Marion Winik, Star Tribune, 31 July 2020 See More

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