What does obsolescence mean?
Obsolescence is the process by which something becomes outdated, unused, or replaced, usually because a newer, more efficient, or more fashionable alternative has appeared. The word is especially common in discussions of technology, manufacturing, and business: a product may become obsolete through improved competition, changing standards, or deliberate product replacement. In language studies, obsolescence can describe a word that has fallen out of ordinary use, although a more specific term such as archaic or obsolete may be preferable in that context. The term is generally formal and neutral, but it can carry a sense of inevitability or technological progress. It is also used in the expression planned obsolescence, meaning the deliberate designing or marketing of a product to become outdated quickly. Overall, obsolescence describes not simply old age, but the transition from active use to irrelevance or replacement.
nounThe state or process of becoming obsolete, especially of a word, product, practice, or technology that has fallen out of use. Obsolescence can also refer to the gradual replacement of an older item by a newer, more efficient, or more fashionable one.
- The state of becoming obsolete or falling out of use.
- The state of being made obsolete, especially through technological or economic change.
- The process of replacing an older product, system, or practice with a newer one.
"The obsolescence of the printed newspaper has transformed the way many people receive news."
"The obsolescence of many traditional crafts has changed the economic role of local artisans."
"Companies must plan for the obsolescence of their products and regularly update their technology."
The plural is grammatically regular but uncommon; singular usage is normally preferred.
"The obsolescences of several older systems changed the market."
Obsolescence is the quiet process by which yesterday's necessity becomes today's museum piece.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does obsolescence come from?
The word comes through French from the Latin obsoletus, meaning old, disused, or no longer in use. English adopted obsolete in the sixteenth century, and obsolescence developed later as a noun meaning the state or process of becoming obsolete. The related forms obsolescent and obsolesce continue to express the idea of gradual decline or withdrawal from use.
Related word forms
How obsolescence is actually used
A formal and largely neutral term, common in discussions of technology, economics, language, and industrial design. It is more frequently used with a product, system, or practice than with a person.