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If you know that de- often means "the opposite of", it's easy to guess the meaning of defunct. Shakespeare seems to have been the first writer to use this adjective, in Henry V. Defunct American political parties include the Greenback Party, the Readjuster Party, and the Nullifier Party. Defunct Academy Awards categories include Best Dance Direction and Best Assistant Director. Defunct U.S. auto models include the Dudly Bug, the LuLu, the Hupmobile, the Gas-au-lec, and the Nu-Klea Starlite. But to speak of a person as defunct would sound disrespectful—which is how it sounds in e. e. cummings's famous poem "Buffalo Bill's defunct".
Examples of defunct in a Sentence
Brad Adgate, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
In Georgia she got involved with a legendary, now defunct community health food store, Life’s Essentials, and several schools that promoted racial pride, good health, and collaboration.
—Cynthia R. Greenlee, Bon Appétit, 28 Feb. 2025
According to the agency’s now defunct website, USAID has provided Ukraine with a total of $37.6 billion in humanitarian aid, development assistance and direct budget support since the full-scale war began.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 17 Feb. 2025
Separately, there's good news for those who had crypto at the now defunct FTX crypto exchange.
—Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defunct
Cite this Entry
“Defunct.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defunct. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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defunct
adjective
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