obsolete

adj

1. (usually)No longer in use or no longer useful; now disused or neglected (often in favour of something newer, better, or more fashionable); outmoded.

   “Speedy, worldwide, accessible delivery of news through the Web has made newspapers obsolete.”

   “Horses became obsolete means of transportation in cities in the first half of the twentieth century.”

   “Since the launch early last year of […] two Silicon Valley start-ups offering free education through MOOCs, massive open online courses, the ivory towers of academia have been shaken to their foundations. University brands built in some cases over centuries have been forced to contemplate the possibility that information technology will rapidly make their existing business model obsolete.”

2. Imperfectly developed; not very distinct.

   “These two birds somewhat closely resemble each other, but the Sedge Warbler is russet-brown above, the feathers with dark centres, the pale buff eyestripe is very clearly defined, and the underparts are buffish white; the Reed Warbler is more olive on the upper parts, the feathers having no dark centres, the underparts are more inclined to buff, and the eyestripe is nearly obsolete.”

verb

1. (transitive)To cause to become obsolete.

   “This software component has been obsoleted.”

   “We are in the process of obsoleting this product.”

   “Should we develop nonhuman minds that might eventually outnumber, outsmart, obsolete and replace us?”

noun

1. An obsolete thing or person.