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Glite Dictionary
👴 To retire 📜 To make outdated
to superannuate

to superannuate

9.9
To make something no longer useful when something newer replaces it
  • verb
  • /ˌsuːpərˈæn.ju.eɪt/
  • UK
translation icon : obsoleto
  • Technological advances can quickly superannuate once-revolutionary products.

Examples

  • The rapid advancement of technology can superannuate old devices quickly.

  • If a law fails to keep up with society, it may superannuate before it is repealed.

  • Many traditional teaching methods have been superannuated by digital learning tools.

  • Many companies fear that their products will be superannuated by newer innovations.

  • With the rapid advancement of technology, many devices quickly become superannuated and need replacement.

  • The software had become superannuated, unable to support newer file formats required by users.

  • As soon as the company released an updated model, the previous version was effectively superannuated.

Synonyms

to retire
vsto superannuate
28 2.8

Take something out of use when it is no longer needed

focuses more on becoming unsuitable or out of date rather than formal removal
to deprecate
vsto superannuate
  • Specialized
4 7.9

Mark a software feature as no longer recommended and likely to be removed

is wider, meaning general obsolescence rather than a technical deprecation step
to obsolete
vsto superannuate
1 6.0

Make something no longer useful because something newer replaces it

is broader, including becoming outdated from unsuitability not only replacement
to obsolesce
vsto superannuate
8.9

To become old-fashioned and no longer used

is also used transitively to cause that loss of use
to antiquate
vsto superannuate
9.5

To make something old and no longer useful

covers this causing action but also the passive becoming from unsuitability
to outdate
vsto superannuate
4.5

To make something no longer useful or fashionable by replacing it with something newer

can also mean becoming out of date due to being unsuitable
to outmode
vsto superannuate
  • Archaic
8.1

To make something old-fashioned or no longer useful

is more general, also applying when usefulness ends, not only fashion

Antonyms

to update
451 2.8

Make something more modern by adding new information or changes

to revive
104 4.2

Make something active or popular again after a time of being forgotten

Surface Forms

superannuate infinitive
superannuated past
superannuated past participle
superannuating present participle
superannuates third person singular

Morphology

superannuate = superannuation (semi-transparent) = super + annu + ate

The shift from 'retire for age' to 'make obsolete/out of date' is a figurative extension; the word structure is visible but the specific sense 'obsolete' is an extended meaning not directly deducible from the morphemes.

Etymology

Superannuate comes from Latin parts super- 'above' and annus 'year', the same root you see in annual, so it literally means 'beyond years'. So to superannuate something is to treat it as 'too old' and make it out of date or obsolete.