old-school

1 of 2

adjective

Synonyms of old-schoolnext
1
: adhering to traditional policies or practices
an old-school coach
2
: characteristic or evocative of an earlier or original style, manner, or form
old-school music

old school

2 of 2

noun

: adherents of traditional policies and practices

Examples of old-school in a Sentence

Adjective an old-school romantic comedy in which the two leads don't jump into bed at the first opportunity an old-school gentleman who opened doors and pulled out chairs for women
Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
One corner boasts a DIY speaker setup blasting old-school reggaeton courtesy of Tego Calderón and Plan B, another plays throwback salsa from Héctor Lavoe and El Gran Combo. CNN Money, 15 June 2026 Lilypad creates chaos and butts heads with the old-school toys, leading to Jessie calling Woody (Hanks) for help. Brian Truitt, USA Today, 15 June 2026 Kelli Barclay is Goodspeed’s go-to person for spectacular old-school tap dance showstoppers. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 14 June 2026 New Shoes’s philosophy centers around pairing an old-school treat with some new-school tricks, so the toppings and dips are a little untraditional and a lot of fun. Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 13 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for old-school

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1803, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1749, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of old-school was in 1749

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Cite this Entry

“Old-school.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/old-school. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.

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