What does obsoleted mean?
Obsoleted is the past tense and past participle of the verb obsolete, meaning that something has been made old-fashioned, ineffective, or no longer current. It usually implies the existence of a newer product, system, method, or idea that has displaced the thing being described. For example, a manufacturer may say that a new platform has obsoleted an older model, while a writer might describe technological change as having obsoleted a previously common practice. The word is especially frequent in technical and commercial language, where products and systems are regularly retired after replacements appear. It can also be used figuratively, as when social change or legislation makes earlier customs outdated. Because “obsoleted” is a relatively formal and specialized form of the verb, many speakers prefer the plainer phrase “made obsolete” in ordinary writing or conversation.
verbTo make something obsolete or no longer current, especially by introducing a newer or more effective version.
- To render a product, system, method, or practice obsolete or no longer useful or current, especially through its replacement by something newer.
"The new platform quickly obsoleted the software it was designed to replace."
"The manufacturer discontinued the console after newer systems obsoleted it."
"New regulations effectively obsoleted several long-established trading practices."
A single product launch can make yesterday's indispensable technology obsolete overnight.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does obsoleted come from?
The word is based on English obsolete, from Latin obsoletus, meaning “disused” or “grown old,” which is related to obsolescere, “to grow old.” In English, obsolete was established as an adjective for things that were out of date, and it also developed as a verb meaning “to make out of date.” Obsoleted is the standard past-tense and past-participle form of that verb.
Related word forms
How obsoleted is actually used
This form is most common in technical, industrial, and product-development contexts. In general prose, “made obsolete” or “rendered outdated” may sound more natural. It is also sometimes used figuratively for ideas or practices displaced by newer developments.
Easily confused with obsoleted
Obsolete is the standard adjective for something old or no longer used, whereas obsoleted is the past-tense and past-participle form of the verb meaning “made obsolete.”