Obsoletism

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The condition of being outdated or no longer in use is referred to as a state that renders something obsolete, affecting cultural practices and language
2. A principle or doctrine advocating for the discontinuation of certain outdated practices highlights the push against obsolescence in various fields
3. The phenomenon where certain ideas or technologies fall out of favor due to advancements can be identified as the belief in or tendency towards obsolescence

Etymology: "Obsoletism" is a plain formation: the adjective "obsolete" with the suffix "-ism" attached. "Obsolete" itself comes from Latin "obsoletus," the past participle of "obsolescere," meaning "to fall into disuse," built from "ob-" (away) and "solere" (to be accustomed). The root sense is therefore about something no longer being customary, which is the same idea that now describes machines and ideas that have been overtaken by newer ones. The "-ism" suffix comes from Greek "-ismos," through Latin "-ismus," and attaches to a base to name a doctrine, practice, or tendency. Adding it to "obsolete" turns the quality of being outdated into a named outlook: a belief that things should be discarded as they age out, or a habit of treating older ideas and technologies as finished. The word is a transparent coinage rather than an old inherited term, so its meaning follows directly from its parts.