Obsolete: Meaning, Examples and Quiz

Obsolete (adjective) — Obsolete means no longer in use or no longer suited to current needs, often because something newer has replaced it. It does not simply mean broken.

Old, broken and obsolete are not identical

An old object may still be useful and widely used. A broken object may be a recent design. An obsolete object may still function but no longer fit the system or purpose for which it was used.

Be precise about context. A method can be obsolete in one workplace but still used elsewhere. Avoid claiming that every older technology has disappeared just because a newer option exists.

Obsolete in sentences

• The office replaced an obsolete booking system that could not connect to its new software.
• The machine still worked, but its obsolete connector no longer fitted our equipment.
• That instruction became obsolete when the form was redesigned.
• The museum displays an obsolete ticket-punching device beside a modern scanner.

Useful patterns and word forms

Common patterns include obsolete equipment, an obsolete method and become obsolete. The adjective stays unchanged: one obsolete instruction; several obsolete instructions.

Try it today: Describe a specific process that changed, explaining which old instruction no longer applies.

Dictionary reference: Merriam-Webster: Obsolete. Examples and quiz questions are written for English Skill Studio.