English Explanatory Dictionary

old school

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun

Preceded by the: a group of people characterized by being conservative or traditional; also, a method for accomplishing a task, a style, or a way of thinking that was employed in a former era, remembered either for its inferiority to the current method, or for its superiority over the new way.
A style of popular music regarded as more old-fashioned or traditional, or not following newer trends; specifically (often old skool), hip-hop or rap music of the late 1970s and 1980s (or more recent music of this style) as contrasted with newer styles of such music.

adj

Now often old-school: characteristic of a method for accomplishing a task, a style, or a way of thinking that was employed in a former era, remembered either for its inferiority to the current method, or for its superiority over the new way.
Of or relating to a style of popular music regarded as more old-fashioned or traditional, or not following newer trends; specifically (often old skool), of or relating to hip-hop or rap music of the late 1970s and 1980s (or more recent music of this style) as contrasted with newer styles of such music.
Chiefly in the form Old School: having conservative or traditional views on Christianity or politics.

adj

Alternative letter-case form of old school (“having conservative or traditional views on Christianity or politics”).

Pronunciation

/ˈəʊl(d)skuːl/ /ˈoʊl(d)ˌskul/ En-au-old school.ogg

Word forms

old school more old school most old school oldschool old-school oldskool old skool

Etymology

The noun is derived from old + school (“followers of a particular doctrine; particular doctrine or way of thinking”), probably a shortening of old school of thinking, old school of thought, or some similar phrase. The adjective is derived from the attributive form of the noun.

Synonyms

OG outdated out of date out of fashion anachronistic antediluvial antediluvian antiquated antique archaic backward backwards behind the times cobwebbed cobwebby dated defunct desuete discontinued disused dootsie elderly extinct expired fossilized Havishamesque hoary idle Miss Havishamesque mouldy obsolete old oldfangled old-fashioned old school outmoded outworn parachronistic passé primitive superannuated superseded unemployed unoccupied venerable workless basic cheugy cringe cringey cringeworthy démodé inelegant last year normie old-hat ossified out out of touch rinky-dink

Antonyms

new school new-school newskool new skool nu skool

Related words

they don't make them like that anymore

Derived words

old schooler

This entry uses open data from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA/GFDL). Word forms are used for search and are not indexed as separate pages.

Back to search All on O Russian dictionary Dahl dictionary