obsolescence

From Latin obsolescens past participle of obsolescere.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˌɒb.səˈlɛ.səns/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˌɑb.səˈlɛ.səns/

Rhymes: -ɛsəns

obsolescence (countable and uncountable, plural obsolescences)

1. (uncountable) The state of being obsolete—no longer in use; gone into disuse; disused or neglected.
   • 1911, “Caddis-fly and Caddis-worm”, in 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica:

     Apart from this feature the Trichoptera also differ from the typical Neuroptera in the relatively simple, mostly longitudinal neuration of the wings, the absence or obsolescence of the mandibles and the semi-haustellate nature of the rest of the mouth-parts.

   • 2019, Jason Hickel, Climate breakdown is coming. The UK needs a Greener New Deal in the Guardian.

     One way is to legislate extended warranties on products, so washing machines and refrigerators last for 30 years instead of 10. Another is to ban planned obsolescence, so manufacturers can’t create products that are designed to fail.

2. (countable) The process of becoming obsolete, outmoded or out of date.
   • 2005, Joseph Harold Greenberg, William Croft, Genetic Linguistics‎:

     Shared obsolescences can be of some significance when connected with a functional replacement. If two languages replace an earlier word for 'nose' with some other term and also lose the traditional term, this double agreement is of significance for judging the existence of a common historical period.

• obsoleteness (much less common)
• obsoletion

• planned obsolescence

obsolescence f (plural obsolescences)

1. obsolescence

• désuétude

• vieillissement

• obsolescence programmée

• “obsolescence” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

• “obsolescence” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).