"one who has outlived his fame," c. 1600 (as hes-beene), from the verbal phrase; see has + been.
Entries linking to has-been
has v.
third person singular present indicative of have.
been v.
past participle of be. Dismissive slang phrase been there, done that attested from 1994 (been there "had the experience," usually of something disreputable, is from 1880s).
never-was n.
"person who never amounted to anything," 1911, from never + was; probably coined to go with used-to-be or has-been.