rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryextinctNo longer existing
adjective

extinct

ik-STINGKT/ɪkˈstɪŋkt/

No longer in existence.

The dodo on display belongs to a species that is extinct.

Accurate dodo bird displayed as museum specimen.
Etymology
exLatinout
+tinctLatinto quench

The image of a fire quenched or put out extended to families and titles that had died out. Applied to a species, it means that no living members remain.

In context

Animals world0:15
There are 360 living and recently extinct species of turtles
What do you know about Turtle: A documentary about the life of Turtle

More examples

  • Many species become extinct when their habitats disappear.
  • That ancient language is now extinct.
  • Scientists classify the volcano as extinct.

Forms

extinct

extinction noun — The state of no longer existing.

Similar words

dead
Dead describes individual organisms; extinct usually describes entire species.
defunct
Defunct usually describes organizations or systems that no longer operate.