Is 'extant' formal or informal?

What's the difference between 'extant' and 'extinguished'?

Can 'extant' describe living people?

Is 'extant' common in academic writing?

← Dictionary

extant

/ˈekstənt/

IELTSAcademic

adjective

Still in existence; not destroyed or lost.

The extant bridge dates from Roman times.
Surviving poems show an extant tradition.
No extant copies of the original play remain.

Adinary Nuance

Distinguish 'extant' from near-neighbors like 'existing', 'surviving', and 'current'. Use 'extant' for things that remain in evidence, not just ongoing, while 'existing' is broader and 'surviving' often applies to people or species.

In other languages

Spanish: existente
Japanese: 存続中
Korean: 존재하는
Vietnamese: còn tồn tại
Chinese: 现存的

Common phrases

extant documentsextant speciesthe extant literature

Synonyms

existing surviving current present available

Frequently asked questions

Is 'extant' formal or informal?: Is 'extant' formal or informal?
What's the difference between 'extant' and 'extinguished'?: What's the difference between 'extant' and 'extinguished'?
Can 'extant' describe living people?: Can 'extant' describe living people?
Is 'extant' common in academic writing?: Is 'extant' common in academic writing?