decommissioned

USAGE SUMMARY

"decommissioned" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to the process of taking something out of active service or use, especially in relation to equipment, facilities, or military assets. Example: The old nuclear power plant was officially decommissioned last year. Alternative expressions include "retired" and "taken out of service."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It is in the process of being decommissioned, and I suppose that, when it is, a shiny new mortuary will be built.

The Guardian

The pumphouse was decommissioned in the 1980s, with developer Simon Currant subsequently going through a 20-year, stop-start process to transform the place into accommodation.

The Guardian - Travel

Having reduced the Japanese nation to submission, the occupying Allied powers turned decommissioned Japanese vessels into whaling ships, and – with western observers aboard – were sent out to kill whales and use their meat to feed a starving nation.

The Guardian

There was no chance to ask how many M1 systems were still in Russia, including decommissioned or out-of-use systems.

The Guardian

Unlike the IRA, the UDA, UVF and Red Hand Commando haven't decommissioned a single bullet.

The Guardian

The situation will improve after 2016, as more wind turbines and wood-burning stations come online, but will then worsen again in 2018 as the country's old nuclear plants are decommissioned.

The Economist

The satellite then typically has a lifetime of between five and seven years, after which it runs out of fuel and must be decommissioned and placed in a junk orbit, says James Northam, a senior engineer at Surrey Satellite Technology, a British satellite firm.

The Economist

But that (non-binding) vote told the government to move only gradually; no nuclear power station has yet been decommissioned.

The Economist

He took a big risk, they argue, six years ago to become First Minister in a Belfast assembly in which Sinn Fein, the IRA's political wing, also sat in the belief that terrorist guns and bombs would soon be decommissioned.

The Economist

Gonçalo Mabunda is one of several who use decommissioned weapons to make "gun throne" sculptures (another is Cristovao Canhavato also known as Kester whose work is one of the mainstays of the African collection at the British Museum).Traditional artistic materials like paints and pencils are likely to be used for graphic ends.

The Economist

Artists have been encouraged to turn decommissioned weapons into weird and wonderful sculptures.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about military or governmental assets, use "decommissioned" to convey a formal removal from service, emphasizing the official nature of the process.

Common error

Avoid using "decommissioned" in casual conversation or informal writing. Opt for simpler terms like "shut down" or "taken out of service" for everyday situations to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The term "decommissioned" primarily functions as a verb in the past participle form. It describes the state of something that has been officially taken out of service or use. Ludwig AI confirms this through numerous examples where "decommissioned" is used to describe facilities, equipment, or systems that are no longer operational.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Encyclopedias

12%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "decommissioned" serves as a past participle verb, indicating that something has been officially removed from service. Ludwig AI analysis reveals it is frequently used in news and encyclopedic contexts with a neutral to professional tone. When choosing alternatives, consider ""taken out of service"" or "retired from service" for formal scenarios, and avoid overuse in casual conversation. Remember to use "decommissioned" to specifically describe official removal from service.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

taken out of service

Formal and direct alternative to "decommissioned", implying removal from active use.

retired from service

Suggests a formal cessation of use, similar to "decommissioned" but often applied to people or systems.

shut down

Implies a temporary or permanent cessation of operation. Less formal than "decommissioned".

mothballed

Specifically refers to preserving equipment for future use, a specific type of decommissioning.

deactivated

Focuses on the act of disabling or rendering something inactive.

phased out

Indicates a gradual removal from use, rather than an immediate cessation.

discontinued

Implies that something is no longer being produced or offered.

abandoned

Suggests that something has been left unused or neglected, often in disrepair.

dismantled

Implies the act of taking something apart, often after it has been decommissioned.

obsolete

Indicates that something is no longer useful because it's outdated.

FAQs

How is "decommissioned" used in a sentence?

The term "decommissioned" typically describes the process of taking something out of active service. For example, "The old power plant was "taken out of service" and officially "decommissioned" last year."

What are some alternatives to saying "decommissioned"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as ""taken out of service"", "retired from service", or "shut down".

Is it correct to say something is "being decommissioned"?

Yes, it is correct. "Being decommissioned" indicates that the process of decommissioning is currently underway. For example, "The nuclear reactor is "being dismantled" and "decommissioned" following safety protocols."

What's the difference between "decommissioned" and "abandoned"?

"Decommissioned" implies a formal, planned removal from service, often with specific procedures. "Abandoned", on the other hand, suggests something has been left unused or neglected without a formal process.