defunct

USAGE SUMMARY

'defunct' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is used to describe something that is no longer in existence or functioning. For example: The museum's defunct website was taken offline after several years of inactivity.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

But if there is a hub, a clearing house for the complex, cynical and murderous business of trafficking migrants, then it is a place where the state is defunct and society disenchanted, where the border guards are biddable for $400, where the beaches are broad and where the sea lapping the shore stretches north to another far more promising coastline.

The Guardian

Thousands turned up including many families of the IRA's notoriously militant East Tyrone Brigade, some of whom were there to show they had switched allegiance away from Sinn Fein to the anti-ceasefire republican groups like the now defunct Real IRA, which has morphed into the new IRA.

The Guardian

The embattled third baseman was suspended in early August by MLB for 211 games, for his connection to a defunct wellness clinic, Biogenesis of America, which is suspected of providing performance-enhancing drugs to athletes.

The Guardian - Sport

The now defunct EIC was formed in 1993 by a number of trade associations "who saw the need to explore common sense solutions to widely-debated environmental problems".

The Guardian

The club was given a raw deal, as it inherited the defunct Detroit franchise's 2-17 record to begin the year and was left out of the NBL's merger with the rival Basketball Association of America — now known as the NBA.

The Guardian - Sport

It is the second unsuccessful attempt by bikies to defeat criminal organisation laws in Queensland in the high court, after a challenge by the now defunct Finks Surfers Paradise chapter to previous laws last year.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

The pair are due at the Old Bailey in London on Wednesday with five other journalists from the now-defunct tabloid the News of the World, as well as private investigator Glenn Mulcaire.

The Guardian

In the days before his death, Scotland Yard and the now-defunct Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) had intelligence that he was about to receive a gun from another man, Kevin Hutchinson-Foster, and launched an armed surveillance operation.

The Guardian

A founder of the now-defunct Guadalajara cartel, Quintero spent 28 years in jail for the 1985 murder of DEA agent Kiki Camarena, but was unexpectedly released in 2013 – to the disgust of the US government – and promptly disappeared.

The Guardian

The FA has been warned by Fifa over fans' behaviour, some (disputed) racist chants and the old insistence on banging on about the now-defunct Irish Republican Army.

The Guardian - Sport

The last time a similar article was published, in 2010 by the now-defunct Rolling Stone, it listed the name of my friend and colleague David Kato.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "defunct", ensure the context clearly indicates what is no longer in use or existence to avoid ambiguity. For instance, specify the "defunct company" or "defunct law".

Common error

Avoid using "defunct" to describe something temporarily inactive. "Defunct" implies a permanent end, not a pause. Use alternatives like "inactive" or "temporarily suspended" for the latter.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "defunct" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns to indicate that they are no longer in use, operation, or existence. Ludwig examples show it describing "defunct organizations", "defunct websites", and "defunct laws". Ludwig AI confirms this adjective usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "defunct" is an adjective used to describe something that is no longer in existence or functioning. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. It's commonly found in news and media, formal business contexts, and scientific writing, indicating a neutral to formal register. When using "defunct", ensure the context is clear and that it accurately reflects a permanent state of cessation, not temporary inactivity. Alternatives include "no longer in existence", "out of service", and "obsolete", each offering slight nuances in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

no longer in existence

Focuses on the state of not existing, implying a complete cessation.

out of business

Specifically refers to a business that has ceased operations.

out of service

Emphasizes the cessation of a service or function, usually temporarily.

non-operational

Focuses on the inability to function or operate.

inactive

Indicates a state of not being active, but doesn't necessarily imply complete cessation.

obsolete

Highlights that something is no longer used because it's outdated or replaced.

terminated

Emphasizes the formal ending or cessation of something, like a contract or program.

expired

Suggests that something has reached its end date or validity.

passed away

Euphemistic term for death, usually referring to a person.

defunctus

Latin term for deceased, archaic.

FAQs

How can I use "defunct" in a sentence?

You can use "defunct" to describe something that is no longer functioning or in existence, such as a "defunct website", a "defunct company", or a "defunct law".

What can I say instead of "defunct"?

You can use alternatives like "no longer in existence", "out of service", or "obsolete" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "defunct bank" or "inactive bank"?

While both can be used, "defunct bank" implies the bank has permanently ceased operations and no longer exists, while "inactive bank" suggests it is temporarily not operating but could potentially resume business.

What's the difference between "defunct" and "obsolete"?

"Defunct" means no longer existing or functioning, whereas "obsolete" means no longer produced or used; out of date. A "defunct" technology might be physically gone, while an "obsolete" one might still exist but is no longer used.