out-of-print

A rare out-of-print book sits on a library shelf.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • No longer available for purchase from the publisher: "out-of-print" describes a book, map, or other published work that is no longer being printed or produced by its publisher, and thus cannot be bought new from standard retail sources.

Usage Examples

• (The publisher no longer produces new copies of that edition.)
• (Used copies of books no longer in production are available in resale stores.)
• (His business deals with academic periodicals that are no longer published.)

Advanced Usage

• "to go out-of-print": to become unavailable from the publisher.
  • The textbook went out-of-print just two years after its release. (The publisher stopped printing it after a short period.)
• "out-of-print title": a specific published work that is no longer in production.
  • The library holds a collection of out-of-print titles from the 19th century. (The library has books from the 1800s that cannot be bought new.)

Variants and Related Words

• Out-of-print (compound adjective): used attributively before a noun.
  • The out-of-print magazine is highly collectible. (The magazine that is no longer printed is sought after by collectors.)
• Print run (noun): the number of copies of a book printed at one time.
  • The initial print run was small, causing the book to become out-of-print quickly. (The limited number of copies led to it being unavailable.)

Synonyms

• Unavailable: not able to be obtained.
• Discontinued: no longer produced or supplied.
• Rare: uncommon, especially because of limited production.

Related Idioms

• Out of circulation: no longer available or active in a particular context.
  • That old magazine is out of circulation, making it out-of-print. (It is no longer distributed or printed.)
• In print: currently available for purchase from the publisher.
  • Many classic books remain in print despite being decades old. (They are still being produced and sold.)