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obsolescence

ob-suh-LES-uhnss /ˌɑːb.səˈles.əns/

nounC1GREGMATSATUPSC

academicformal

The process of becoming obsolete, outdated, or no longer useful.

Refers to the state or process of falling into disuse, often driven by intentional design choices or rapid technological change.

The story behind the word. From Latin 'obsolescere' meaning 'to grow old or fall into disuse'. The term 'planned obsolescence' was famously popularized by real estate broker Bernard London in 1932 as a proposed government strategy to stimulate consumer spending during the Great Depression.

Word relationships

disuse: Disuse is simply the state of not being used; obsolescence implies being replaced by superior or newer alternatives.
archaicness: Archaicness implies historical antiquity, while obsolescence focuses on current practical utility.

durability: The capacity to remain functional and useful over long periods.
state-of-the-art: The highest level of modern development.

Commonly confused with

oblivion: Oblivion means being completely forgotten or destroyed, whereas obsolescence means being out-of-date.

Word family

obsolete (adjective): No longer produced or used; out of date.
obsolescent (adjective): Becoming obsolete; falling into disuse.

Collocations

planned obsolescence
technological obsolescence
built-in obsolescence

Example sentences

"Planned obsolescence forces consumers to replace functional electronics prematurely." Industrial Economics
"Rapid software updates accelerated the physical obsolescence of older hardware components." Technology Strategy

Memory hook

OBSOLETE-SENSE: Making devices that lose sense/utility on purpose. Falling out of date by design.

When not to use

Do not use to describe temporary absence or momentary failure; it denotes permanent functional or economic irrelevance.

Fun facts

The Phoebus cartel formed in 1924 deliberately restricted the lifespan of incandescent light bulbs to 1,000 hours to guarantee repeat business—a classic case of planned obsolescence.