What does antiquatedness mean?
Antiquatedness is an abstract noun denoting the state or quality of being antiquated — that is, old-fashioned, outdated, or no longer suited to contemporary purposes. It is formed by adding the noun-forming suffix '-ness' to the adjective 'antiquated', which derives ultimately from the Latin 'antiquus', meaning ancient or former. The word is rare and formal in register; most writers prefer simply to use the adjective 'antiquated' rather than convert it into a noun. When it does appear, it typically describes institutions, technologies, laws, or customs whose age has left them ill-fitted to modern demands — the antiquatedness of a bureaucracy's filing systems, for instance, or of an industrial plant's equipment. Its connotation is usually negative, implying inefficiency or neglect, though it can occasionally be used with wry affection for things whose out-of-dateness lends them charm. Related terms such as 'outdatedness', 'obsoleteness', and 'old-fashionedness' cover similar ground and are encountered more frequently.
nounThe quality or state of being antiquated; the condition of being old-fashioned, outdated, or no longer suited to modern use.
- The state or quality of being old-fashioned, obsolete, or no longer in current use.
"The antiquatedness of the factory's machinery made it impossible to compete with newer plants."
"Critics pointed to the antiquatedness of the tax code, much of which dated from the 1950s."
"There was a certain charm in the hotel's antiquatedness, with its brass keys and hand-cranked elevator."
As an abstract mass noun, 'antiquatedness' is almost always used in the singular; a plural form exists grammatically but is essentially never used.
"The essay compared the antiquatednesses of several legal codes."
Some words are so rarely used that dictionaries barely record them — and 'antiquatedness' is a word about being outdated that has itself become a little outdated.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of antiquatedness
Antiquatedness is formed from the adjective 'antiquated' plus the suffix '-ness', a standard English means of creating abstract nouns denoting qualities or states. 'Antiquated' entered English in the early 17th century, derived from the verb 'antiquate', meaning to make old or obsolete, which in turn comes from the Latin 'antiquatus', past participle of 'antiquare' ('to make old'), from 'antiquus' meaning ancient or former. The same Latin root gives English 'antique', 'antiquity', and 'antiquarian'. The noun 'antiquatedness' itself is a much rarer formation, appearing only occasionally in English writing.
Related word forms
How antiquatedness is actually used
A rare, somewhat formal abstract noun. In everyday writing, speakers more often use the adjective 'antiquated' directly (e.g. 'the system is antiquated') than this noun form. It carries a mildly negative connotation of obsolescence, though it can be used affectionately of charmingly old-fashioned things.
Easily confused with antiquatedness
Antiquity refers to ancient times or great age itself, whereas antiquatedness refers to the quality of being outdated relative to present needs.