Stages of decay

disused:*=*
    Not currently in use, but could be reinstated easily
    For physically prominent objects (e.g. buildings, towers or quarries), disused=yes is used more often[1].
    Railways: railway=disused is still used in addition to the lifecycle prefix, as it pre-dates the introduction of prefixes.[2]
    usage: ~177,600 (as of 2021-04)

abandoned:*=*
    Still visible but fallen into serious disrepair and which could only be put back into operation with considerable effort
    For physical objects (e.g. buildings, towers or quarries), abandoned=yes is used more often[3].
    Railways: railway=abandoned for partially dismantled tracks is still used in addition to the lifecycle prefix, which pre-dates prefix introduction.[2]
    usage: ~277,900 (as of 2021-04)

ruins:*=*
    Only ruins are remaining
    usage: ~3,400 (as of 2021-04)

The following four tags are available to reduce the possibility of a mapper remapping the feature from existing available sources used to edit OSM, e.g. satellite or aerial imagery, that shows the old state of the feature. Once the OSM available sources do not show the feature, the feature can safely be removed from OSM. Renderers cannot rely on OSM preserving physically vanished history.

demolished:*=*
    Not existing anymore because of active removal
    May have been used for features that are almost but not completely invisible
    usage: ~41,100 (as of 2021-04)

removed:*=*
    Not existing anymore because of active removal (possible duplicate of demolished:*=*)
    usage: ~27,600 (as of 2021-04)

razed:*=*
    Not existing anymore because of active removal (duplicate of removed:*=*, possible duplicate of demolished:*=*)
    Railways: railway=razed for fully dismantled tracks and trackbed (overbuilt state) is still used in addition to the lifecycle prefix, because it pre-dates prefix introduction.[2]
    usage: ~25,900 (as of 2021-04)

destroyed:*=*
    Destroyed by an event other than intentional demolition
    usage: ~5,300 (as of 2021-04)