supersedence

Supersedence is the act or state of being superseded—replaced by something newer, more effective, or more appropriate. It describes the process by which an existing rule, standard, device, or policy is displaced by a later version or replacement that is intended to take effect instead of the former.

In law, a statute, regulation, or case law may supersede an earlier provision. This can occur through explicit repeal, where the later law states that the earlier one is repealed, or through implied repeal, when the two provisions cannot reasonably operate together. The effect is that the earlier provision ceases to be in force to the extent of inconsistency. Transitional provisions may govern the change to preserve continuity and clarity during the shift.

In technology and standards, supersedence describes the typical life cycle of products and norms: a new version replaces the previous one, potentially with compatibility considerations, deprecation schedules, or migration pathways for users and systems.

In governance and policy, programs and guidelines are often superseded by newer priorities or strategies. Such changes can have legal, financial, administrative, and practical implications for organizations, individuals, and regulators, including required updates, training, or compliance adjustments.

Overall, supersedence denotes a shift where an older item is displaced by a newer or more authoritative alternative. It is closely related to concepts like repeal, deprecation, and update, but emphasizes the replacement aspect rather than mere modification.