supplanted: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Academic, Literary
Quick answer
What does “supplanted” mean?
To replace or take the place of (someone or something), especially by force, scheming, or superior effectiveness.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To replace or take the place of (someone or something), especially by force, scheming, or superior effectiveness.
To usurp a position, role, or function; to cause something to be set aside or displaced, often implying an abrupt or unjust removal.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. Slightly higher frequency in historical/political texts in British English.
Connotations
Consistently implies an active, often forceful or cunning, displacement.
Frequency
Moderate frequency in both varieties; common in analytical, historical, and business contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “supplanted” in a Sentence
[Someone/Something] supplanted [Someone/Something] (as/in...)[Someone/Something] was supplanted by [Someone/Something]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “supplanted” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The young heir schemed to supplant his uncle as head of the firm.
- Coal has been largely supplanted by renewable energy sources in the national grid.
American English
- The new software update completely supplanted the need for the old plugin.
- Her ambition was to supplant the current manager and take over the department.
adverb
British English
- The old methods were supplantedly cast aside in favour of innovation. (Rare)
American English
- (Usage as an adverb is extremely rare and non-standard for this verb form.)
adjective
British English
- The supplanted monarch lived out his days in exile.
- We are dealing with a supplanted technology, no longer supported by the manufacturer.
American English
- He felt a supplanted champion's bitterness after losing his title.
- The supplanted system's data was migrated to the new platform.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Digital streaming services have supplanted physical media sales as the primary revenue source.
Academic
The Copernican model gradually supplanted the Ptolemaic view of the universe.
Everyday
Smartphones have completely supplanted my need for a separate camera and satnav.
Technical
The new algorithm supplants the legacy system, offering a fifty-fold increase in processing speed.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “supplanted”
- Using 'supplanted' for a peaceful, agreed-upon succession (use 'succeeded' or 'replaced').
- Confusing 'supplanted' with 'supplemented' (which means to add to).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Supplant' strongly implies that the replacement was achieved through force, trickery, or competition, often with a sense of overthrow. 'Replace' is more neutral.
Yes, if the focus is on superior effectiveness, e.g., 'Renewables are supplanting fossil fuels,' though it still carries a nuance of displacement rather than simple addition.
No, it is more common in formal writing, analysis, history, and business. In everyday speech, 'replaced' or 'took over from' are more frequent.
Using it with the preposition 'with' (e.g., 'supplanted with') is less idiomatic. The standard patterns are 'supplanted by [new thing]' or 'supplanted [old thing]'.
To replace or take the place of (someone or something), especially by force, scheming, or superior effectiveness.
Supplanted is usually formal, academic, literary in register.
Supplanted: in British English it is pronounced /səˈplɑːntɪd/, and in American English it is pronounced /səˈplæntɪd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[To be] supplanted in someone's affections”
- “The king is dead, long live the king (conceptual link to supplantation)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SUPPLANT: a new plant (SUPPLANT) grows so forcefully it pushes the old one out of the ground, REPLACING it.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIETY/ORGANISATION IS A BODY (a new organ supplants the function of an old one); PROGRESS IS A FORCE (new ideas supplant old traditions).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'supplanted' CORRECTLY?