ex·tinct
ik-ˈstiŋ(k)t 
ˈek-ˌstiŋ(k)t
ˈek-ˌstiŋ(k)t
1
a
: no longer burning
b
: no longer active
an extinct volcano
2
: no longer existing
an extinct animal
3
a
: gone out of use : superseded
b
: having no qualified claimant
an extinct title
Synonyms
Examples of extinct in a Sentence
Adjective
Many of these old traditions have since become extinct.
a few overgrown ruins are all that remain of that once mighty but now extinct civilization
Recent Examples on the Web
Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 26 Jan. 2025
But, interbreeding would change the human genome, which likely continued until Neanderthals went extinct around 40,000 years ago.
—Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 15 Jan. 2025
Colossal aims to revive the woolly mammoth species, which mainly went extinct 10,000 years ago (though some populations remained until 4,000 years ago), by creating a woolly mammoth calf that an elephant mother will then give birth to.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 15 Jan. 2025
The assessment, published in the scientific journal Nature, found that 24 percent of animals living in freshwater, such as ponds, streams, lakes, rivers and wetlands, are at high risk of going extinct.
—Filip Timotija, The Hill, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for extinct 
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Adjective
Panda haters often argue that the billions of dollars that are spent to prevent them from going extinct would be better allocated to saving more adaptable species.
—Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 26 Jan. 2025
But, interbreeding would change the human genome, which likely continued until Neanderthals went extinct around 40,000 years ago.
—Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 15 Jan. 2025
Colossal aims to revive the woolly mammoth species, which mainly went extinct 10,000 years ago (though some populations remained until 4,000 years ago), by creating a woolly mammoth calf that an elephant mother will then give birth to.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 15 Jan. 2025
The assessment, published in the scientific journal Nature, found that 24 percent of animals living in freshwater, such as ponds, streams, lakes, rivers and wetlands, are at high risk of going extinct.
—Filip Timotija, The Hill, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for extinct
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Dictionary Entries Near extinct
Cite this Entry
“Extinct.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extinct. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
extinct
adjective
ex·tinct
ik-ˈstiŋ(k)t
ˈek-ˌ
ˈek-ˌ
: no longer existing : lacking living representatives
extinct prehistoric animals
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