supersede

Supersede is a transitive verb meaning to take the place of something that previously had authority, use, or acceptance, or to cause it to be set aside or rendered obsolete. A newer rule, standard, treaty, policy, or technology can supersede an older one. In law and governance, a provision may supersede earlier provisions; in technology, a new standard can supersede an older protocol.

Word origin and form: the term derives from Latin supersedēre, literally “to sit above,” from super- “above” + sedere “to sit.” It entered English in the late Middle Ages. The conventional spelling today is supersede; the frequent misspelling supercede is widely encountered but regarded as incorrect by most dictionaries. The verb forms are: supersede (base), supersedes (third person), superseding (present participle), and superseded (past tense and past participle). The noun form is supersession.

Usage notes: supersede tends to imply deliberate replacement by an authority or standard, rather than mere aging or loss of usefulness. It is more formal than replace or displace and is common in legal, regulatory, technical, and official contexts. In nonformal writing, “replace” or “override” may be preferred, depending on nuance.

Examples: The contract supersedes all prior agreements. The older policy has been superseded by a new directive. The new software supersedes the previous version.