Definition

1. Adjective:
   • No longer existing or living: Describes a species, family, or group that has died out completely, leaving no living members.
   • No longer active: Describes something, like a volcano or fire, that is not burning or erupting and is not expected to do so again.
   • No longer in use or practice: Describes customs, laws, or institutions that have been terminated or have fallen out of use.

Examples of Usage

• Referring to species:
  • The dodo bird is an extinct species.
  • Scientists are working to protect endangered animals from becoming extinct.
• Referring to volcanoes:
  • That mountain is an extinct volcano.
• Referring to customs or roles:
  • The title of "court jester" is now extinct.

Advanced Usage

• "To go extinct": This phrasal verb describes the process of a species dying out.
  • Many dinosaurs went extinct millions of years ago.
• "Functionally extinct": A term used when so few individuals of a species remain that they can no longer perform their role in the ecosystem or recover their population.
  • The species is considered functionally extinct.

Variants and Related Words

• Extinction (n): The state or process of being or becoming extinct.
  • The extinction of the dinosaurs is a major topic of study.
• Extinctive (adj): Tending to extinguish or make extinct. (Less common)
  • The extinctive pressures on the population were too great.

Synonyms

• Vanished: Having disappeared completely.
• Defunct: No longer existing, operating, or functioning.
• Dead: No longer alive. (Note: "Extinct" is typically used for entire groups, not single organisms.)
• Obsolete: No longer produced or used; out of date.

Antonyms

• Extant: Still in existence; surviving.
• Living: Alive, not dead.
• Active: (For volcanoes) Currently erupting or capable of erupting.

Adjective

1. being out or having grown cold
   • threw his extinct cigarette into the stream
   • the fire is out
2. (of e.g. volcanos) permanently inactive
   • an extinct volcano
3. no longer in existence; lost or especially having died out leaving no living representatives
   • an extinct species of fish
   • an extinct royal family
   • extinct laws and customs