defunct

adjective de·funct \di-ˈfəŋkt, dē-\

: no longer existing or being used

Full Definition of DEFUNCT

: no longer living, existing, or functioning <that firm is now defunct>

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Origin of DEFUNCT

Latin defunctus, from past participle of defungi to finish, die, from de- + fungi to perform — more at function

First Known Use: 1599

Related to DEFUNCT

Synonyms: bygone, bypast, dead, extinct, departed, done, expired, gone, nonextant, vanished

Antonyms: alive, existent, existing, extant, living

Synonym Discussion of DEFUNCT

dead, defunct, deceased, departed, late mean devoid of life. dead applies literally to what is deprived of vital force but is used figuratively of anything that has lost any attribute (as energy, activity, radiance) suggesting life <a dead, listless performance>. defunct stresses cessation of active existence or operation <a defunct television series>. deceased , departed , and late apply to persons who have died recently. deceased is the preferred term in legal use <the estate of the deceased>. departed is used usually as a euphemism <our departed sister>. late is used especially with reference to a person in a specific relation or status <the company's late president>.