Definitions
- Referring to a company or organization that no longer exists or operates. - Describing a system, law, or practice that is no longer in use or effective. - Talking about a person or thing that is no longer functional or operational.
- Referring to a species of animal or plant that no longer exists on Earth. - Describing a language or culture that has no living speakers or practitioners. - Talking about a custom, tradition, or practice that is no longer observed or followed.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe something that no longer exists or operates.
- 2Both words can refer to a system, practice, or tradition that is no longer in use.
- 3Both words have negative connotations and imply loss or failure.
What is the difference?
- 1Scope: Defunct is typically used for companies, organizations, or things that were once functional or operational, while extinct is used for species, languages, or cultures that have completely disappeared.
- 2Nature: Defunct implies that something has ceased to operate or function, while extinct implies that something has completely disappeared or gone extinct.
- 3Timeframe: Defunct can refer to something that has recently ceased to exist, while extinct implies a longer period of time since the disappearance.
- 4Usage: Defunct is more commonly used for man-made things, while extinct is more commonly used for natural things.
- 5Connotation: Defunct can imply a sense of failure or bankruptcy, while extinct can imply a sense of natural selection or evolution.
Remember this!
Defunct and extinct are synonyms that both describe something that no longer exists or operates. However, defunct is typically used for companies, organizations, or things that were once functional or operational, while extinct is used for species, languages, or cultures that have completely disappeared. Additionally, defunct implies that something has ceased to operate or function, while extinct implies that something has completely disappeared or gone extinct due to natural selection or evolution.
