Vocabulary Builder — Essay & Answer Writing
Supplant
To supersede and replace something or someone previously established, especially by force, strategy, or the introduction of a superior alternative
Old French supplanter — from Latin supplantare (to trip up, overthrow); sub- (under) + planta (sole of the foot). Originally implied deliberate displacement; in modern usage, the sense of competitive replacement predominates.
"Analysts warn that generative AI tools could supplant entry-level white-collar jobs in India's IT services sector before adequate reskilling infrastructure is in place."
Useful for GS-3 (Economy, S&T) and Essay answers on technology and labour. Use when discussing how digital payments have supplanted cash transactions (India's UPI displacing cheque-based systems), how renewable energy may supplant coal in India's energy mix by 2047, or how AI automation threatens to supplant routine cognitive work. Also relevant to GS-2 for discussing how ordinances may supplant parliamentary deliberation. Distinguish from 'supplement' (adding to something without replacing it) — supplant implies the original is rendered obsolete. In 2026, the AI displacement debate and India's 'Future of Work' policy discussions make this word especially relevant for essay and GS-3 answers.
