Standard Lemma guide

defunct

adj · noun · verb · 9 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK, US: /dɪˈfʌŋkt/
  • US: /ˌdiˈfʌŋkt/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ʌŋkt
  • CMU ARPABET: D IH0 F AH1 NG K T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

No longer in use or active, nor expected to be again.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: antiquated, disused, outdated, anachronistic, antediluvial, antediluvian, antique, archaic, backward, backwards, behind the times, cobwebbed, cobwebby, dated, defunct, desuete, discontinued, dootsie, elderly, extinct, expired, fossilized, Havishamesque, hoary, idle, Miss Havishamesque, mouldy, obsolete, old, oldfangled, old-fashioned, old school, outmoded, out of date, out of fashion, outworn, parachronistic, passé, primitive, superannuated, superseded, unemployed, unoccupied, venerable, workless

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

No longer in use or active, nor expected to be again.

No longer in business or service, nor expected to be again; out of business.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: business

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: antiquated, disused, outdated, anachronistic, antediluvial, antediluvian, antique, archaic, backward, backwards, behind the times, cobwebbed, cobwebby, dated, defunct, desuete, discontinued, dootsie, elderly, extinct, expired, fossilized, Havishamesque, hoary, idle, Miss Havishamesque, mouldy, obsolete, old, oldfangled, old-fashioned, old school, outmoded, out of date, out of fashion, outworn, parachronistic, passé, primitive, superannuated, superseded, unemployed, unoccupied, venerable, workless

Antonyms: none provided

3

adj

Meaning 3

Specifically, of a process: having terminated but not having been reaped (by its parent or an inheritor), and thus still occupying a process slot. See also zombie, zombie process.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adj

Meaning 4

(of a language) No longer spoken.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: human-sciences, linguistics, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

adj

Meaning 5

Deceased, dead.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: archaic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

The dead person (referred to).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

To make defunct.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

adjective satellite

Meaning 8

having ceased to exist or live

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the will of a defunct aunt
  • a defunct Indian tribe

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

adjective satellite

Meaning 9

no longer in force or use; inactive

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a defunct law
  • a defunct organization

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin dēfunctus, past participle of dēfungor (“to finish, discharge”).

Across languages

Translations

46 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: buiten gebruik — no longer in use
  • Dutch: buiten werking — no longer in use
  • German: erloschen — no longer in use
  • German: gelöscht — no longer in use
  • German: nicht mehr existierend — no longer in use
  • German: tot — no longer in use
  • Hungarian: megszűnt — no longer in use
  • Māori: tūnguru — no longer in use
  • Norwegian: lagt ned — no longer in use
  • Norwegian: nedlagt — no longer in use
  • Portuguese: inativo — no longer in use
  • Russian: неде́йствующий (nedéjstvujuščij) — no longer in use
  • Turkish: feshedilmiş — no longer in use
  • Turkish: geçersiz — no longer in use
  • Turkish: kullanılmayan — no longer in use
  • Turkish: ölü — no longer in use
  • Bulgarian: покоен (pokoen) — deceased
  • Catalan: difunt — deceased
  • Dutch: gestorven — deceased
  • Dutch: overleden — deceased
  • French: défunt — deceased
  • Galician: defunto — deceased
  • German: gestorben — deceased
  • German: verstorben — deceased
  • Italian: defunto — deceased
  • Polish: wymarły — deceased
  • Portuguese: defunto — deceased
  • Romanian: defunct — deceased
  • Russian: уме́рший (uméršij) — deceased
  • Russian: вы́мерший (výmeršij) — deceased
  • Russian: сконча́вшийся (skončávšijsja) — deceased
  • Russian: усо́пший (usópšij) — deceased
  • Russian: поко́йный (pokójnyj) — deceased
  • Spanish: difunto — deceased
  • Swedish: avdöd — deceased
  • Turkish: ölen — deceased
  • Turkish: ölmüş — deceased
  • Turkish: vefat eden — deceased
  • Turkish: vefat etmiş — deceased
  • Bulgarian: покойник (pokojnik) — The dead person
  • Russian: поко́йник (pokójnik) — The dead person
  • Russian: поко́йница (pokójnica) — The dead person
  • Russian: поко́йный (pokójnyj) — The dead person
  • Russian: уме́рший (uméršij) — The dead person
  • Russian: усо́пший (usópšij) — The dead person
  • Russian: сконча́вшийся (skončávšijsja) — The dead person
Real reading context

defunct in complete knowledge articles