Meaning & use
obsolescence
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Meanings
noununcountableformal
The state of no longer being used or needed because something newer and better has replaced it.
Grammar: Uncountable: the obsolescence of the typewriter, not 'an obsolescence'.
Patterns
- the obsolescence of something
- something faces obsolescence
The rapid obsolescence of mobile phones means many are replaced within two years.
Digital cameras led to the obsolescence of film for most people.
The factory's old machines were close to obsolescence.
noununcountablebusiness
The process of becoming outdated or unusable over time.
Grammar: Uncountable, often with a modifier such as planned or technological.
Patterns
- planned obsolescence
Critics accuse the company of planned obsolescence because its batteries fail quickly.
Software obsolescence can make old files impossible to open.
Engineers designed the bridge to resist obsolescence for a hundred years.
Common combinations
- planned obsolescence
- Planned obsolescence encourages people to buy new devices often.
- technological obsolescence
- Technological obsolescence makes last year's model seem old.
- face obsolescence
- Landline phones now face obsolescence.
- rapid obsolescence
- Rapid obsolescence is a problem for computer hardware.
- fall into obsolescence
- Typewriters fell into obsolescence in the 1990s.
- built-in obsolescence
- Built-in obsolescence is when a product is made to wear out.
Synonyms and how they differ
- redundancy
- Redundancy suggests something is no longer needed, but obsolescence stresses being replaced by something better.
- disuse
- Disuse just means not being used, and says nothing about a newer replacement.
- outdatedness
- Outdatedness is rare and plainer, while obsolescence is the standard formal noun.
Opposites
Word family
- obsolete adjective
- no longer in use because replaced
- obsolescent adjective
- becoming obsolete
- obsolesce verb
- to become obsolete
- obsoleteness noun
- the state of being obsolete
Commonly confused: obsolescence or obsolete?
obsolescence vs obsolete
Obsolete is the adjective for something already out of use, while obsolescence is the noun for the state or process of becoming so.
Practice
Which phrase describes making products that wear out so people must buy new ones?
Choose one answer.
Planned obsolescence is the standard term. The other choices are not set phrases with this meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “obsolescence”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.