defunct

/dɪˈfʌŋkt/

//dɪˈfʌŋkt// adj

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"defunct" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“defunct” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #20,088 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#20,088
frequency rank, English
7
letters
11
tracked misspellings
4
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - No longer in use or active, nor expected to be again.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

defunct vs defect
71% similar
defunct vs deduct
71% similar
defunct vs defence
71% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for defunct
PropertyValue
Headworddefunct
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/dɪˈfʌŋkt/
Letters7
Frequency rank#20,088
Misspellings tracked11
Confusable pairs4
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “defunct” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). defunct lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for defunct is 7 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /dɪˈfʌŋkt/. Corpus data places it at rank #20,088 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 11 likely wrong-spelling variants for defunct, with forms such as "ddefunct", "deffunct", and "defnuct". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. It also participates in 4 confusable-pair relationships, "defect", "deduct", "defence", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Latin dēfunctus, past participle of dēfungor (“to finish, discharge”). The correct English form is defunct, spelled D-E-F-U-N-C-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    No longer in use or active, nor expected to be again.
  2. 2
    No longer in use or active, nor expected to be again.
  3. 3
    Specifically, of a process: having terminated but not having been reaped (by its parent or an inheritor), and thus still occupying a process slot. See also zombie, zombie process.
  4. 4
    (of a language) No longer spoken.
  5. 5
    Deceased, dead.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin dēfunctus, past participle of dēfungor (“to finish, discharge”).

This word in other languages

difunto(Español)défunt(Français)erloschen(Deutsch)inativo(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ddefunct,deffunct,defnuct,defucnt,defuncct,defunctt,defunnct,defuntc,deufnct,dfeunct,edfunct

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of defunct - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

ddefunct1deffunct1defnuct2defucnt2defuncct1defunctt1defunnct1defuntc2
Edit distance from "defunct"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "defunct"?
"defunct" is spelled D-E-F-U-N-C-T. The IPA pronunciation is /dɪˈfʌŋkt/.
What does "defunct" mean?
As an adjective, "defunct" means: No longer in use or active, nor expected to be again.
What words are commonly confused with "defunct"?
"defunct" is commonly confused with "defect", "deduct", "defence". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "defunct"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "defunct" is /dɪˈfʌŋkt/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "defunct"?
Borrowed from Latin dēfunctus, past participle of dēfungor (“to finish, discharge”). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “defunct”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is D-E-F-U-N-C-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /dɪˈfʌŋkt/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “defect” - see the side-by-side comparison. defunct vs defect
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list