supplant

1 of 2

verb

sup·​plant sə-ˈplant 

supplanted; supplanting; supplants

transitive verb

1

: to supersede (another) especially by force or treachery

2

a(1)

obsolete : uproot

(2)

: to eradicate and supply a substitute for

efforts to supplant the vernacular

b

: to take the place of and serve as a substitute for especially by reason of superior excellence or power

supplantation

(ˌ)sə-ˌplan-ˈtā-shən 

noun

supplanter

sə-ˈplan-tər 

noun

supplanter

2 of 2

noun

sup·​plant·​er pronunciation at supplant +ə(r) 

plural -s

: one that supplants

Synonyms of supplant

Verb

• replace
• supersede

Choose the Right Synonym for supplant

replace, displace, supplant, supersede mean to put out of a usual or proper place or into the place of another.

replace implies a filling of a place once occupied by something lost, destroyed, or no longer usable or adequate.

replaced the broken window

displace implies an ousting or dislodging.

war had displaced thousands

supplant implies either a dispossessing or usurping of another's place, possessions, or privileges or an uprooting of something and its replacement with something else.

was abruptly supplanted in her affections by another

supersede implies replacing a person or thing that has become superannuated, obsolete, or otherwise inferior.

the new edition supersedes all previous ones

Examples of supplant in a Sentence

Verb

old traditions that were fading away and being supplanted by modern ways

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

But over time, people’s loyalty to online brands may be supplanted by the efficacy of their interfaces for agents. — George C. Lee Ii, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026

The e-Gear, which utilized paddle shifters, allowed for rapid gear changes without the use of a clutch pedal and would soon supplant the manual as the marque’s transmission of choice. — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 24 Aug. 2026

Once a fixture of the American experience, the custom of collectively huddling around the cathode-ray hearth has largely been supplanted by the isolationist practices of the smartphone era. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 19 Aug. 2026

According to the firm, the new West Palm Beach office will not supplant Miami, where it was founded in 1967 and grew to more than 3,200 lawyers in 51 offices across the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and Asia. — Luisa Yanez, Miami Herald, 18 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French supplanter, from Latin supplantare to trip up, cause to stumble, from sub- + planta sole of the foot — more at place

Noun

Middle English, from supplanten to supplant + -er

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for supplant

• decant
• descant
• eggplant
• enchant
• explant
• implant
• preplant
• recant
• replant
• transplant
• ant
• aunt

Kids Definition

supplant

verb

sup·​plant sə-ˈplant 

1

: to take the place of (another) especially by force or treachery

2

a

: to root out and supply a substitute for

b

: to gain the place of and serve as a substitute for especially by reason of superior excellence or power

supplantation

(ˌ)sə-ˌplan-ˈtā-shən 

noun

supplanter

sə-ˈplant-ər 

noun