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Extinct means that a species of plant or animal no longer exists. There are no more living members of the species.
Extinction can happen for a number of reasons, including:
When a species goes extinct, it is a loss to the entire planet. Each species plays a role in the ecosystem, and when a species goes extinct, it can disrupt the entire balance of nature.
The dodo is an extinct bird.
Noun: extinction, extirpation.
Adjective: extinct, extirpated.
Verb: to extinguish, to extirpate.
Synonyms: vanished, disappeared, lost.
The word "extinct" comes from the Latin word extinctus, which means "to quench, to put out." It was first used in English in the 14th century, and it is still used today to refer to a species that has died out completely.
Find out what animals are extinct.