WordGarden.ioextinct
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /ɛkstˈɪŋkt/
US
- /ɪkˈstɪŋkt/
Meanings
Adjective
having no living members left
no longer existing or in use
no longer active or likely to erupt
Beyond the definition
Imagine the mighty dinosaurs, creatures that once walked the Earth, but are now gone forever. That means they died out completely; there are none left anywhere. It is a sad word, often used for kinds of plants or animals that have vanished from our planet forever. But "extinct" is not just about dinosaurs. A tradition can become extinct if nobody follows it anymore, and even some words can die out when people stop using them. Think of the dodo bird, a classic example of something truly gone forever.
"Extinct" describes something that no longer exists. It is most commonly used in biology to describe species of plants or animals that have died out permanently, like the woolly mammoth, the Tasmanian tiger, or many kinds of prehistoric creatures. When a species is declared extinct, it means there are no living individuals left, either in the wild or in captivity.
However, "extinct" is not limited to living things. It can also describe something that has stopped existing or is no longer used. A custom, practice, or even a language can become extinct if people no longer keep it alive. For example: "The art of letter writing is becoming extinct in the age of email." Or, "Horse-drawn carriages are now rare and almost extinct in city streets."
The word comes from a Latin root meaning "to die out" or "be extinguished." It carries a sense of finality and loss. Scientists study extinction to understand how life on Earth changes over time and to try to prevent more species from disappearing.
So, whether you are talking about ancient creatures, fading traditions, or lost languages, "extinct" describes something that once existed but is now gone forever, with no living or active form left.
Examples
- 1
Ancient animals
Dinosaurs became extinct millions of years ago.
- 2
Species status
The tiger is not extinct, but some of its relatives are.
- Usagebe extinct
used for a whole species, not just one animal
- 3
Conservation risk
Without stronger protection, some of these frogs could go extinct within our lifetime.
- Phrasego extinct
become extinct
- 4
Conservation status
This plant is extinct in the wild, so all the remaining ones are grown in gardens.
- Domainin conservation, extinct in the wild
no longer living naturally in nature
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Language loss
The old village dialect is nearly extinct because very few young people still speak it.
See also
Similar
- gone
- no longer existing
- wiped out
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- extinct species
- become extinct
- go extinct
Word family
Explore
- mass extinction
- conservation status
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- extinctadjective