old-school

1 of 2

adjective

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
But in today's age of avocado-lime ranch and green goddess, many old-school dressings have quietly disappeared from grocery shelves and dinner tables. Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 8 Nov. 2025 The lettering was seen by many as an intentional reference to old-school Bollywood posters — a subtle nod to Mamdani’s Indian heritage. Philip Marcelo, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2025 About 30 or so customers occupied the wooden stools of the old-school, salty hangout in an industrial strip a few miles from downtown Louisville. Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025 Most recently, Cox starred in the Prime Video comedy series Clean Slate, a show about an old-school and outspoken Alabama car wash owner, and his estranged child, who returns home as a proud, trans woman named Desiree (Cox). Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025 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 9 Nov. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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