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Definition of defunct

defunct

/dɪˈfʌŋkt/
de · funct
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defunct Lexical Profile

defunct Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

No longer existing, operating, or functioning.

Example

"The city council plans to convert the tracks of the defunct railway line into a public walking trail."

2

No longer living; deceased.

Example

"The estate was distributed among the distant relatives of the defunct monarch."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for defunct

• Nearby Words

deft
deftly
deftness
defunct
defund
defuse
defuser

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the 16th century from Latin defunctus, the past participle of defungi, meaning 'to finish, discharge, or have done with life,' formed from de- ('off, completely') and fungi ('to perform or execute').

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Defunct. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/defunct
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