Obsoleta

Obsoleta is a feminine adjective used in Spanish and Portuguese to describe something that has fallen out of use or is no longer current. It is applied to technologies, practices, laws, fashion, language, and other practices that have been superseded by newer alternatives. Phrases such as “tecnología obsoleta,” “normas obsoletas,” or “instrumentos obsoletos” are common in technical, legal, and cultural contexts.

Etymology and related terms: the word derives from Latin obsoletus and entered Romance languages through historical stages that produced obsoleto/obsoleta in Spanish and Portuguese. The corresponding English noun is obsolescence, and related nouns in Spanish and Portuguese are obsolescencia and obsolescência, respectively. The concept is closely linked to obsolition, modernization, and technological or regulatory renewal.

Usage and nuance: obsoleta denotes gender agreement with the noun it modifies (masculine obsoleto, feminine obsoleta). It generally carries a neutral to negative connotation, signaling reduced usefulness, compatibility issues, or inefficiency compared with current standards. In some contexts, describing something as obsoleta can motivate policy changes, upgrades, or revisions, especially in technology, infrastructure, and institutional rules.

See also: obsolescence, obsolete, obsoleto, obsolescencia, obsolescência. Obsolescence remains a common lens for assessing the lifecycle of devices, processes, and regulations as societies adopt newer solutions.