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
To chime with Thaiboy’s love for old-school Tiësto and Basshunter, swedm® split the atom to find Swedish EDM’s roots in Dutch trance and Eurodance. Nathan Evans, Pitchfork, 12 May 2026 His campaign is built around an appeal to mainstream Republicans, swing voters and old-school conservatives who see his defiance of Trump in 2020 as a mark of independence rather than betrayal. Joe Kovac, AJC.com, 12 May 2026 There are lots of new tools, but there’s still an old-school mentality that’s resistant to new tools. Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026 The old-school repositioning cruise is getting a glow-up as brands create remarkable itineraries that unlock access to some of the world’s most fascinating places. Scott Laird, Travel + Leisure, 12 May 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 14 May. 2026.

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