planned obsolescence: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Academic, Business, Technical
Quick answer
What does “planned obsolescence” mean?
A policy of designing products with an artificially limited useful life, so that they will become obsolete or non-functional after a certain period, forcing consumers to buy replacements.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A policy of designing products with an artificially limited useful life, so that they will become obsolete or non-functional after a certain period, forcing consumers to buy replacements.
A business strategy where a product's lifespan is deliberately shortened or its design is intentionally dated to stimulate repeat purchases. The concept can also be applied metaphorically to systems, ideas, or technologies designed to become outdated.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The spelling 'obsolescence' is identical.
Connotations
Identical negative connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English due to historical association with US industrial design and consumer culture debates.
Grammar
How to Use “planned obsolescence” in a Sentence
[Company] engages in planned obsolescence.Critics accuse [industry] of planned obsolescence.The [product] is a classic case of planned obsolescence.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “planned obsolescence” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The manufacturer was accused of planning the obsolescence of its devices.
- They do not plan obsolescence into their products.
American English
- The company planned the obsolescence right from the drawing board.
- We refuse to plan obsolescence.
adverb
British English
- The product was designed obsolescently, as per the company's policy. (Rare/Formal)
- The part fails obsolescently after two years. (Rare/Formal)
American English
- The software was updated obsolescently to force new hardware sales. (Rare/Formal)
- They operate obsolescently by design. (Rare/Formal)
adjective
British English
- The planned-obsolescence strategy backfired, damaging the brand.
- We need new laws against planned-obsolescence practices.
American English
- It's a classic planned-obsolescence scheme.
- They faced a lawsuit over planned-obsolescence allegations.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
A controversial strategy discussed in management and marketing, often analyzed for its short-term profit vs. long-term brand reputation trade-off.
Academic
A key concept in economics, industrial design history, consumer law, and environmental studies.
Everyday
Used by consumers complaining about products breaking just after the warranty expires.
Technical
Refers to specific engineering techniques like non-replaceable batteries, software incompatibility, or the use of deliberately weak components.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “planned obsolescence”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “planned obsolescence”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “planned obsolescence”
- Misspelling as 'planned obsolesense' or 'planned obsolescense'.
- Using it to describe any product failure, rather than the deliberate corporate strategy.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is not explicitly illegal in most jurisdictions, but it can violate consumer protection laws if it involves deception (e.g., hiding a known defect). The EU and some US states have 'right to repair' laws aimed at countering its effects.
Planned obsolescence involves physical or technical failure. Perceived obsolescence (often in fashion/tech) involves marketing and trends making a perfectly functional product seem out-of-date.
Non-replaceable batteries in devices, printers with chips that stop working after a set number of pages, and software updates that slow down older phone models are classic alleged examples.
Proponents argue it drives innovation and continuous economic activity. Critics counter that it creates false demand, generates massive waste, and undermines trust, harming the economy in the long term.
A policy of designing products with an artificially limited useful life, so that they will become obsolete or non-functional after a certain period, forcing consumers to buy replacements.
Planned obsolescence is usually formal, academic, business, technical in register.
Planned obsolescence: in British English it is pronounced /ˌplænd ˌɒbsəˈles(ə)ns/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌplænd ˌɑːbsəˈles(ə)ns/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not commonly expressed as an idiom]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a PLANNER in a company meeting, drawing a OBSOLETE (crossed-out) calendar on the board, planning for the product to be useless on a specific future date.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A CONTROLLABLE RESOURCE (companies 'control' the death date of a product). PRODUCTS ARE DISPOSABLE SERVANTS (hired for a fixed, short term).
Practice
Quiz
What is the PRIMARY goal of planned obsolescence?