extinct

1 of 2

adjective

ex·​tinct ik-ˈstiŋ(k)t  ˈek-ˌstiŋ(k)t 

1

a

: no longer burning

b

: no longer active

an extinct volcano

2

: no longer existing

an extinct animal

3

a

: gone out of use : superseded

b

: having no qualified claimant

an extinct title

extinct

2 of 2

verb

extincted; extincting; extincts

transitive verb

archaic

: extinguish

Synonyms

Adjective

• bygone
• bypast
• dead
• defunct
• departed
• done
• expired
• gone
• nonextant
• vanished

Examples of extinct in a Sentence

Adjective

Many of these old traditions have since become extinct.

a few overgrown ruins are all that remain of that once mighty but now extinct civilization

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Deep-seafloor-dwelling foraminifera, which were far away from the surface and were able to keep feeding on the remains of dead organisms, were mostly fine, but nine out of 10 planktonic species went extinct. —Tim Vernimmen, JSTOR Daily, 19 June 2025

Our species once coexisted for tens of thousands of years and interbred with both Denisovans and Neanderthals before the two went extinct. —Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 18 June 2025

Why experts are worried February 10, 2025 12:19 PM Read Next World ‘Tiny’ creature went extinct in wild decades ago. —Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 18 June 2025

Biologists have confirmed the existence of a 200-million-year-old species of egg-laying mammal that has been assumed to be extinct. —Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 12 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Latin exstinctus, past participle of exstinguere

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for extinct

• distinct
• hoodwinked
• precinct
• succinct
• unlinked
• blinked
• clinked
• inked
• kinked
• linked
• tinct
• winked

Kids Definition

extinct

adjective

ex·​tinct

ik-ˈstiŋ(k)t,

ˈek-ˌ

1

: no longer active

an extinct volcano

2

: no longer existing

an extinct species of animal

Medical Definition

extinct

adjective

ex·​tinct ik-ˈstiŋ(k)t  ˈek-ˌ 

: no longer existing : lacking living representatives

extinct prehistoric animals