abandoned practice

[əˈbændənd ˈpræktɪs]
noun phrasepl: abandoned practices
prática abandonada
1. A custom, habit, or method that was once commonly used but is no longer followed or employed
The abandoned practice of handwriting letters has been replaced by email communication.
A prática abandonada de escrever cartas à mão foi substituída pela comunicação por email.
2. A professional or institutional procedure that has been discontinued or stopped being used
Blood-letting is an abandoned practice in modern medicine.
A sangria é uma prática abandonada na medicina moderna.
3. A tradition or ritual that is no longer maintained by a community or culture
The abandoned practice of arranged marriages is becoming less common in urban areas.
A prática abandonada de casamentos arranjados está se tornando menos comum nas áreas urbanas.
In Brazil, discussing abandoned practices often reflects the country's rapid modernization and cultural shifts, particularly in discussions of traditional family structures, indigenous customs, and colonial-era methods. In the USA, the phrase frequently appears in discussions of medical history, industrial practices, and social customs, reflecting Western emphasis on progress and innovation. The term carries neutral to positive connotations when discussing harmful practices (like blood-letting) but may carry nostalgia when discussing cultural traditions.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
obsolete practicediscontinued practiceoutmoded practicedefunct traditiondisused custom
Antonyms / Antônimos
current practiceactive traditionongoing customestablished practice

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
prática abandonada
Standard usage throughout Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
prática abandonada / prática que caiu em desuso
Both forms used; second form emphasizes gradual discontinuation
São Paulo
prática abandonada / costume extinto
More formal business and academic contexts prefer 'costume extinto'
Portugal
prática abandonada / prática desusada
Portuguese Portuguese often uses 'desusada' to emphasize the archaic nature

Related Words

disusedobsoletediscontinuedarchaictraditioncustomritualprocedure

Related Idioms & Phrases

a relic of the past
consigned to history
fallen by the wayside
gone the way of the dodo
a thing of the past
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