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'Defunct' means no longer existing or functioning. It implies that something used to be active but is now inactive or obsolete. Unlike 'broken,' which can be fixed, 'defunct' suggests a permanent end. Consider a defunct website or a defunct business; they're gone for good. It's stronger than 'inactive'; it's about ceasing to exist. Think of a rotary phone in the age of smartphones.
The word 'defunct' comes from the Latin 'defunctus,' the past participle of 'defungi,' meaning 'to finish' or 'to die.' It combines 'de-' (meaning 'down' or 'away') and 'fungi' (meaning 'to perform' or 'to execute'). So, 'defunct' literally means 'having finished' or 'having died out.'
Think of Blockbuster Video. Once a giant, now 'defunct' due to the rise of streaming services like Netflix. Or consider Myspace, once a popular social media platform, now largely 'defunct' as users moved to Facebook and other platforms.
'Defunct' is a useful word for describing things that have ceased to exist or function. Use it to add a sense of finality to your descriptions. 🔚
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