disuse
disused; disuses
Use the noun disuse to describe a condition of not being used. After years of disuse, you won't be surprised when your dad's motorcycle doesn't start.
The word disuse implies at least a bit of neglect, and it can also mean that something has become obsolete or old-fashioned: "Typewriters fell into disuse after personal computers became available." You'll often find the word used in the graceful phrase "fall into disuse." The word comes from a Latin root, dis, which means "lack of," added to the word use, and it's been around since about 1400.
Definitions of disuse
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the state of something that has been unused and neglected
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synonyms:
neglect
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types:
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omission
something that has been omitted
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type of:
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declination, decline
a condition inferior to an earlier condition; a gradual falling off from a better state
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omission
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘disuse'.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
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