extinct

[ik-stingkt]

adjective

1. no longer in existence; having ended or died out.

   extinct pre-Colombian societies.

2. Biology, Ecology.,  (of a plant or animal species) having no living member remaining anywhere, not in the wild, in a naturalized population, nor in captivity, as categorized by the IUCN Red List: EX

   a list of extinct animals that once inhabited the Isle of Man.

   Synonyms: gone, defunct

3. no longer in use; obsolete.

   an extinct custom.

   Synonyms: archaic

4. extinguished; quenched; not burning.

   evidence of a half dozen extinct campfires.

   Synonyms: out

5. Geology.,  (of a volcano) not having erupted for at least 10,000 years and not expected to erupt again.

extinct

/ ɪkˈstɪŋkt /

adjective

1. (of an animal or plant species) having no living representative; having died out

2. quenched or extinguished

3. (of a volcano) no longer liable to erupt; inactive

4. void or obsolete

   an extinct political office

extinct

1. Having no living members. Species become extinct for many reasons, including climate change, disease, destruction of habitat, local or worldwide natural disasters, and development into new species (speciation). The great majority of species that have ever lived—probably more than 99 percent—are now extinct.

2. No longer active or burning, as an extinct volcano.

Other Word Forms

• nonextinct adjective
• unextinct adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of extinct¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin ex(s)tinctus, past participle of ex(s)tinguere; extinguish ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of extinct¹

C15: from Latin exstinctus quenched, from exstinguere to _extinguish

Synonym Study

See dead.

Example Sentences

"We don't see that in any other animal, living or extinct," she said.

From BBC

Bringing back sunflower sea stars, which are functionally extinct in California, could help restore kelp forests off the coast, researchers say.

From Los Angeles Times

“There were books when my daughters were in grammar school and high school that stated we were extinct,” said Art Morales, an elder and historian in the tribe.

From Los Angeles Times

Since its passage, no marine mammal has gone extinct and some species have recovered dramatically.

From Los Angeles Times

Hundreds to thousands of animal species go extinct every year, according to the World Wildlife Fund, and things are projected to get even worse if climate change continues unabated.

From Los Angeles Times