desuetude
Say it: DES-wih-tyood /dɪˈsjuːɪtjuːd/ · noun
What “desuetude” means
The state of no longer being used.
More precisely: A state of disuse or neglect.
Example: “The old company gym has fallen into desuetude since everyone went remote.”
When to use it
Use it for places, objects or customs that have fallen out of use, in formal or historical descriptions.
Similar words
disuse, neglect, abandonment
Where it comes from
Latin desuetudo, from desuescere 'to become unaccustomed'.
Quick check
The village's old washhouse stands dusty and untouched because nobody uses it any more. What state has it fallen into?
desuetude or obsolescence?
Show the answer
desuetude
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